
Class j- 

Book. t 

Copyright N" 



.Sia. 



^Bt.. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 




MRS. A. G. BOEHM. 



HISTORY 



New Richmond Cyclone 



JUNE 12th, 1899. 



By MRS. A. G. BOEHM. 



ST. PAUL: 
DISPATCH JOB PKIXTINt; CO. 

inoo. 






LIBRARY of CONGRESS 
Two Copies Received 

. JUN it 1904' 

/-> Cooyrleht Entry 
CLASS A XX<=- No- 



r-npv R ' 



COPY B 



Copyright, 1900. 
By Mary Adeline Boehm. 



INTRODUCTION. 



In giving this book to the public, I feel I am actuated by 
the purest motives in rendering a service to the community in 
general. No one can accurately describe the terrible workings 
of a cyclone or tornado without first experiencing the direful 
effects. Pliny, in the interests of science, lost his valuable life 
by approaching too near the crater of Mount Vesuvius when in 
action. This death, though justly lamented, was the result of 
his OAvn imprudence, actuated by lofty motives doubtless. But 
the case was different \vith the Now Richmond people and 
bears no comparison, except the dreadful experience. Those 
of our people who fell victims to the tornado would to a unit 
have willingly saved their lives at any risk, if a chance was left 
them. The memory of having passed through that dreadful 
ordeal of the most awful seven minutes, which it is calculated 
the tornado took in the passage of its death-dealing flight over 
our peaceful, pretty city, would suffice for serious reflection for 
lifetime. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 




THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



CYCLONES. 

Cyclones or tornadoes have c(»me to this cuinitry unpleasantly 
frequent of late years. The experts of tlie weather bureaus 
have repeatedly sent out warnings, l)ut men reading of these 
calamities taking place in other quarters are slow to believe that 
they might possibly be the unwilling Aictiras of like disasters. 
But it would be well to reflect, and prepare for the worst. 
It was proven in regard to the tornado of June 12tli, 1899, that 
the cellars of wooden structures were found to be the safest 
refuge, the least mortality occurring there, though many 
were saved in the basements and cellars of ferick structures. 
For instance^ the Nicollet Hotel, a three-story brick building 
with a large underground basement; seven took refuge there; 
six were saved. The seventh was preparing to go down, but 
was struck by falling timber and killed instantly. In the rooms 
above, five were killed and many maimed. It has also been 
proven in every case that the southw(3st corners of cellars were 
undoubtedly the safest. As the cyclone came from a south- 
westerly direction towards the northeast, the southwest corner 
of cellars or basements must be the safest places, with one's 
back against the wall. The cyclone, coming from that direction, 
sweeps the wooden buildings over the heads of the refugees in 
the cellar. But there is great danger in any case when the 
foundations are built too high, the SAveeping course of the cyclone 
leveling everything, even the strongest masonry, with the sur- 
face. The high foundations on the southwest side, in conse- 
quence, were very dangerous, being thrown inwards upon the 
poor people, many of whom received severe wounds from the 
falling masonry. The refugees in the brick cellars and base- 
ments had less chance of escape, being stricken down in all 
corners by brick, mortar and heavy beams falling in a heap, 
filling up the cavity of the cellar. Some of these brick base- 
ments such as the one under AFr. Wnrd Williams' dry goods 



6 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

store, were veritable death traps. Yet Mr. and Mrs. Williams, 
with Miss Scott, by their practical intelligence, saved their lives. 
Standing straight, with their backs against the southwest wall 
of the basement, they escaped uninjured, without the least 
scratch. While others in promiscuous places in the same base- 
ment were instantly killed Or fearfully maimed. Thus it is 
of the utmost importance in all great emergencies to control 
one's inner self for the present crisis. Place a hand of steel 
upon brain and nerves, and calmly and prayerfully await re- 
sults. They are, as a rule, in one's favor. 

Predisposed geologically for a cyclone, the St. Croix Valley 
and 'New Richmond were, geologically speaking, predisposed 
to receive a cyclone. The winter of 1898-1899 was ushered in 
early in ISTovember by a heavy fall of snow, which did not re- 
main, however, very long. But the second snowfall certainly 
did; followed by others, denser, heavier, until pile apon pile 
of snowdrifts in many places exceeded ten feet. Sleighs in 
pioneering roads through the country passed over the tops of 
fences which were not discernible in the snow. In the mean- 
time, the intense cold continued, increasing with each snowfall, 
until it reached the maximum, and registered 60 degrees in 
January. Then occasionally the temperature would rise. 
Delicate and aged persons were homebound for months. Still 
the cold wave continued on, together with the snow-covered 
surface, till late in April. Oh ! how we longed for summer ! 
How we braced ourselves up in the freezing air, saying encour- 
agingly to each other : "Wait patiently till the bright, beautiful 
summer comes. We will then forget we ever had such a severe 
winter. We will enjoy ourselves in our hammocks under the 
beautiful branches of our ^ew Richmond's glorious trees!" 
Oh! ISTew Richmond's glorious trees! Where are they now? 
And the summer came, and brought us death! The fact of 
the snow remaining so unremittingly on the ground for so many 
months was to a certain extent conducive to the growth of under- 
ground' vegitation. Roots of trees were particularly nourished 
by the enormous quantities of moisture oozing continunlly be- 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 




8 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

neath the frozen ci'iist of the surface, forming as the deeper it 
penetrated not only veins of water springs, but veritable hot- 
beds of gases, thus preparing the heated surface of the St. 
Croi>: Valley, jSTevv Richmond and its environs for the reception 
of a cyclone. 

When the late spring came to stay, vegetation was more 
promising than might be expected under the circumstances. 
The trees and shrubs burst forth into greater luxuriance and 
beauty, which rivaled many more propitious years. Our mag- 
nificent trees, for which New Richmond was famous, were 
la^'ish in the rich green hue of their foliage. The flowering 
shrubs, however, such as the lilac, did not do so well as in for- 
mer years. It was noticeable that the blooms were fewer and 
of shorter duration. The cause most likely to assign for this 
was probably owing to the insufficiency of root power of such 
shrubs to send an adequate supply of sap to invigorate the 
frozen delicate branches kept so long in that state by the intense 
ooltl of the past winter. 

As above stated, the spring was a late one. The usual say- 
ing here by many was : "It seems forgotten up above to give 
'Nbv, Richmond a summer this year." How terribly the truth 
of this was verified to many ! The summer so longed for 
bi'or.ght us death, poverty and much life-long misery! 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



WARNINGS OF THE COMING CYCLONE. 



WARNINGS GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC AT LARGE BY THE 
LEARNED OBSERVER OUTRAM OF THE WEATHER BUREAU. 



About the 10th and 11th of June, it was noticed that a large 
area of unusually low pressure was reported from the head of 
the "Missouri Valley and the Black Hills. It was evidently 
expected that a violent rain and wind storm or cyclone would 
sweep from that region over the Northwestern States, follow- 
ing the general direction of most cyclones ; that is, from south- 
west to northeast. 

Monday afternoon, June 12th, the center of the cyclone was 
sweeping over North and South Dakota, while the storm area 
extended as far south as Kansas and St. Louis, and as far nortli 
as Canada. The winds were blowing in a huge spiral about 
this territory. From Manitoba the winds were blowing south, 
from St. Louis northeast, and from Michigan west, while from 
the Southern States the winds were blowing in a northerly direc- 
tion. About the same time the barometer stood fully half an 
inch below the normal reading, and was jumping about with 
the unsteadiness nearly always noticed before a severe storm. 
The air was heavy with moisture, and warm winds from the 
Gulf of ^Mexico were sweeping up from the South over Wis- 
consin and Minnesota. 



10 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 




EAST SIDE OF MAIN STREET. 
NEW RICHMOND ROLLER MILL IN LEFT HACKGROUND. 



1^ , 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 11 

THE NATURE AND CAUSE OF A TORNADO. 

A tornado, according to Mr. Outram, is always occasioned 
by southerly or southwesterly winds striking the edge of a 
cyclone, the direction of which is usually northeasterly. The 
coming together of these winds produces an eddy or twister in 
the edge of the cyclone. These eddies of tornadoes invariably 
occur in the southwestern quadrant of a cyclone. They cover 
much less ground than the cyclone itself, but are much more 
violent, and more fatal in their results. 

The funnel-shaped cloud which is the usual characteristic of 
a cyclone was present at jSTew Richmond Monday, June 12th, 
1899, and, as is also usual, considerable rain was precipitated. 
The cyclone center does not correspond with the center of the 
tornado, but the tornado always forms along the outskirts of 
the cyclone. The general storm of Monday, June 12th, was 
violent, and after passing over Minnesota and Wisconsin it 
took its course, as far as could be ascertained, up the St. Law- 
rence Valley. 

The tornado appears to have formed on the St. Croix Valley 
and have followed the course of the St. Croix River until it 
could escape into the open country about Stillwater, whence 
it took the course of the Willow River, which runs through 
New Richmond. Then, spending its force on the latter city, 
continued its course up the Willow River until its force had 
been dissipated. 

There were no means of measuring the force of the tornado, 
for the reason that there is no weather station near New Rich- 
mond, and further because no instruments have been invented 
capable of measuring the speed of the whirlwind's course. 

DEFINITION OF A CYCLONE. 

^Vhat is a cyclone? The definition given in the dictionary 
is: A whirlwind. Of what is it composed? Of air, impreg- 
nated with various gases, of various degrees of temperature. 



12 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

These gases, coming in contact together, cause increasing agita- 
tion, according to the density and equality of the hot and cold 
air with which the mass is composed, thus proving whirlwinds 
of unequal velocitj^ These whirlwinds, proving so disastrous 
on this continent of late years, were formerly more frequent 
in the Eastern Hemisphere under various names, according to 
the locality in which they took place. In India and the Indian 
Ocean they were termed the fearful "Sirocco," a wind not only 
dangerous in its powerful velocity, but scattering poison in its 
course. It comes from the southeast, and goes occasionally as 
far west as Italy. The simoon is a hot, suffocating wind in 
Arabia, Syria and the adjacent countries. The whrilwinds 
referred to in the Indian Ocean are very much dreaded by 
sailors. Many a staunch ship was miserably wrecked passing 
within the belt of the whirlwind's course. 

The devastation of the simoon, especially in the Sahara 
Desert of Africa, is a matter^ of history, the wind raising 
the light sand of the desert, sometimes overwhelming whole 
caravans a mile long. But the Africa of the Nineteenth 
Century is very different from that of the ancients. The mod- 
ern facilities of travel greatly ameliorate the dangers to com- 
merce which formerly beset the merchandise in the slow transi- 
tion from East to West. 

In this country the name given to a whirlwind with a funnel- 
sh;3ped downward course is cyclone. The frequency of their 
recurrence of late years, and the death-dealing nature of their 
results in America has produced a feeling of much dread. The 
one which occurred June ISth, 1899, in ITew Richmond, and 
which engages my pen, is universally pronounced the greatest 
in the history of the nation. It was a veritable tornado, at- 
tended with the worst of consequences. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 13 

SUMMARY. 

t 
HISTORY OF THE TORNADO OF JUNE 12, 1899. 

A toniiKlo struck Xcw Richmond Monday, June 12tli, 1S99, 
at 6 o'clock p. ni. The duration of the storm was seven min- 
utes. The dead, so far as known, numbered 119 men, women 
and chihlren, whose mangled and torn bodies have been recov- 
ered for burial. 

The injured, many of whom will be permanently crippled, 
numbered 146. The total number of buildings destroyed was 
225. The number of business houses and offices destroyed was 
125. The total loss of property, closely estimated, amounted 
to $1,000,000. 

Such is a brief summary of our losses ; but is it correct ? It 
falls far short of it, if one takes into consideration the bric-a- 
brac, the accumulation of years, the odds-and-ends that were 
lost, that can never be replaced. But wdiy think of the goods 
we have lost I The awful loss of human lives was still greater ! 
For them we mourn ! 

HISTORY OF TORNADO. 

The tornado of June 12th, 1899, which wiped out, as it 
seemed, the pretty town of 'New Richmond, Wis., will long live 
in the memory of its sorrowing survivors. Calm and happy 
were the inhabitants of this "Garden" dity — "A perfect park 
of rural beauty" — when, without apparent warning, there came 
upon it one of those direful calamities of nature that the most 
thoughtful or intelligent could not foresee, and changed in a 
few brief moments all that was bright and beautiful into scenes 
of horror upon horror that defy the most graphic pen to depict. 

At 5 o'clock p. m., June 12th, the twenty-three hundred in- 
habitants of !N'ew Kichmond were peacefully pursuing their 
vnrious avocations as usual, little dreaming of the awful doom 
awaiting many of them \n the limited space of one hour and 



14 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

seven minutes ! That awful hour and seven minutes arrived — 
ftnd passed ! And a great change came ! A few brief moments 
■of intense surprise — followed by the dreadful reality— dawned 
upon them Math all its concomitant heart-rending misery and 
despair ! Instead of home, comforts, luxuries and happiness, 
chaos reigned supreme on this unfortunate sj)ot of Mother 
Earth ! 

Silence intense for some minutes followed the catastrophe. 
Then the agonizing wail upon wail arose on the air, amidst the 
awful ruin, from the stricken wounded, pinned beneath the piles 
of fallen timbers ! Those who heard the despairing shrieks on 
that fatal night, amidst the awful surroundings, compared it 
to what their imagination might picture of the agonizing shrieks 
of lost souls in the depths of the ^'Inferno." But, alas, for 
the silent dead ! Many a bright, promising life was crushed 
out of existence ! And many a noble heart was stilled forever ! 

Oh ! the sights that met the gaze of the survivors ! There 
lay scattered heaps of men, women and children, crushed out of 
all semblance to humanity. And, scattered on the roads half 
way to their homes, the mutilated bodies of flying refugees, 
seeking the home shelter they were never to know again ! 

Some were picked up here and there, still living, writhing in 
agony, but insensible to the willing hands to aid them ; others, 
endeavoring to make themselves heard, were loudly calling for 
help, with limbs pinned beneath the fallen debris. 

Then, to add to the horrors of the awful scene, the ominous 
cry of fire, fire ! An*explosion of a gasoline tank had occurred 
in a hardware store, and flames instantly shot up and ignited 
combustible matter among the debris scattered about. Then 
the flames spread rapidly, leaping their forked tongues from 
pile to pile, in close proximity to the wounded, which later dis- 
coveries revealed had become victims to that most horrible and 
most dreaded of devouring elements. Merciful God ! To the 
eyes and ears of the wounded fastened down under the fallen 
timber, unable to extricate themselves, the sight and sound of 
fire gradually approaching them, stealthily coming nearer and 



THE NEW HICllMONI) CVCLOXE. 15 

nearer to flio nii fortunate beings, must ho to the imagination 
the supreme acme of hnman mental and physical suffering! 
Tlio cliinax of the most intense misery! 

MAN'S HAIR TURNED GRAY. 

It is not snrprising that credence was given to the assurances 
told and verified by many that men's hair turned white in these 
supreme moments of suspense and agony. A case in point is 
tiiat of Mr. James Gavin, our City Treasurer. Mr. Gavin, a 
bright, intelligent gentleman, met with an accident some ten 
years ago which injured his spine so severely that paralysis 
ensued. He was compelled to use crutches in consequence 
from that time. AMien he saw the storm approaching, he hur- 
ried home as quickly as his disability would permit. He 
reached his residence, and with his only child, a beautiful girl 
of ten years, descended to the cellar, followed by his wife. He 
and his child had reached the bottom step when the storm 
struck the house, but Mrs. Gavin was not so fortunate. She 
was thrown into the basement with considerable force, and ren- 
dered insensible. Mr. Gavin and Tna were unhurt, but were 
covered with debris. Mr. Gavin called to his wife, but re- 
ceiving no answer, deemed her dead. Then came a suspicion 
of smoke, and the horror of the scene was added to in a moment 
by a little flame which began to lick its way towards those who 
were prisoners in the wreckage of their home. 

In his helplessness and anguish the poor father cried to the 
Almighty God for aid, that he and his daughter might escape 
the tire, and that the body of his wife might be saved from 
cremation beforo the husband and the child could once more 
gaze u})on the features that had been so much to them in life. 
1 )ivine Providence heard the cries of !N[r. Gavin. His wife's 
taint voice was heard calling from beneath the debris a short 
distance from them. 

Little Tna heard it too, and with a superhuman effort raised 
the wreck which held her fast, and in a moment reached the 
street. She found assistance there, and as the flames leaped 



16 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

one over another and drove their hot breath into the faces of 
the rescuers and prisoners, Mr. Gavin and his Avife were lib- 
erated and carried to the street. ISTeithcr received serious 
physical injuries, but few would reeogui/.c in the trembling, 
weak man whose head tlie cyclone crowned with snow, the for- 
mer gentle, black haired J\Ir. Gavin ! 

NEWSPAPERS FELL SHORT OF THE REALITY. 

The various paj)ors of the day pictui'ed graphically and ably 
the terrible scatastroplie, but even they fell short of the reality. 
Those who survived that terrible night, those who heard the 
despairing cries and moans of the dying, will not soon forget 
it. How any one escaped in the general ruin was miraculous. 
Never did the Providence of God apj)ear so vividly depicted as 
amid the ruins of the tornado swept city of jSTew Richmond ! 
Yes, it Avas truly marvelous how any living thing escaped. 
Those who did set?med dazed, — seemed under an hypnotic spell, 
— an awful hallucination, an insecurity, an appartnit expectancy 
prevailing for weeks aftcrAvards. 

The Avriter, meeting a lady of her acquaintance t^^'o months 
after the cyclone, Avas greeted Avith a quiet stare. This esti- 
mable lady h)st a bright, promising boy in the fearful tornado. 
Ah ! who can fathom the future ? That boy's tAvelve years of 
life 2^assed by him like sunbeams. Through the influence of 
pious, intenectual parents, he was debarred from contact Avith 
sin and soil. Would it be ahvays so ? "Quen sahe!" 

A strange feature of the results of the tornado Avas that so 
feAV tears Ave re shed oxin- the remains of the dead, during the 
interment in the cenu^eries. It seemed the calamity Avas too 
great for inner thought. The hearts in the bosoms of the suf- 
ferers Avere literally calloused by the awfulness of their sorroAv, 
It Avill take a long, long time to mellow the broken hearted. 
Joys may again creep into their lives, but the death sorroAv of 
that f(>arful day -will never leave the hearts of the surviA'ors. 
Yes, time niav do nuieh for New Kichmond. Houses mav be 



THK NKW RICHMONI) CVCI.ONM 17 

rebuilt I And afte-r tlie hi[>se of years trees may <;n»\v a,i;:iiiil 
But not the same trees jilanted by loving hands wliieli have 
loiiii' since turned to r\;\y. 'J'his generation will never see New 
Kichmond clothed in its foliage bcanty as it was arrayed before 
the awful cyclone robbed it of its many attractions. Yet time 
can do much, so let us ho]ie for brighter days. The writer, who 
lost everything of value she ]>ossessed in the g<'iieiMl i-niii. Inis 
nineli to lament and great need of Impe. 




ni:iuNNi.\G oi- TUi: sikkm, i.ookim. sihtw. 



.\ PEN PICTURP: of the cyclone APPROACHINO new RICH- 
MOND SO VIVIDLY SEEN RY MR. HOEHM .VND OTHERS. 

I he mi.)rning (if June li'tli and early |)arl of the day were 
jileasant. Later in the afternoon it beeanie sultry, and later 
still a gradual darkening, indicating tliat we were going to have 
a heavy rain storm. 

(Jollmar Brothers' circus was to l)e the attnieiion that after- 
1 " and e\-eninii'. This bron::lit in nianv farmei's and their 



18 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

families, for a circus in a country town is the signal for a gen- 
eral holiday, so that the town was more than usually crowded. 
The circus was well attended, as usual. At five o'clock a light 
rain was falling, which was soon followed by light hail. About 
six o'clock the people were going to their homes for supper. 
Here and there a few could be seen examining the clouds, which 
had begun to look threatening towards the southwest. But the" 
majority either failed to notice their approachina' danger or 
passed it off with the usual comment, "A bad storm coming." 

MR. A. G. BOEHM'S ACCOUNT OF THE STORM. 

Looking towards the southwest, across the country, I saw 
the cyclone approaching. It might liave been two miles dis- 
tant, or less, when I took my last view before I sought safety 
in flight. It was six o'clock by my watch, the air around me 
calm, but dark and dense, which impressed me as strangely 
ominous. From the southwest an immense black cloud loomed 
in sight, covering rapidly the firmament as it approached. The 
lower part touching the earth was funnel-shaped, and I knew 
but too well what that meant. The funnel, on closer observa- 
tion, did not quite touch, but was surrounded by fire. Pres- 
ently my attention was drawn towards the northwest, and there 
another dense black cloud was seen swiftly approaching from 
that direction. This one was expanding more rapidly and di- 
rectly towards the zenith. In less time than it takes to relate, 
the two monsters met. Then what to me appeared a mighty 
struggle for supremacy began. The northwest cloud struck the 
edge of the funnel-shaped cloud from the southwest. The latter 
twisted and writhed like some monster in agony, then, rolling 
swiftly, lowered to the ground. Then and there took place one 
of the wildest, most awful scenes of nature. Though when I 
think of it now it appears to me very unnatural. I saw wagons, 
horses and cattle flying in the air like chafl". There were pieces 
of timber, portions of barns, things of all descriptions, dust, mud 
and every conceivable thing that lay in its path whirled in the 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 19 

air, then caught as they were falling and whirled up again. 
But I w^aited to see no more, for it was rapidly coming our way, 
but rushed amidst that terrible roaring and clouds of dust and 
debris for home, half a block distant. I reached it, blew out 
the lamps lighting, for supper was on the table. Hurriedly 
calling my wife, who was calm but anxious, we rushed down 
the cellar. I took my position in the southwest corner; my 
wife knelt in prayer. In a moment the cyclone was upon us, 
and I drew my wife towards me, covering her in my arms as 
well as I could. O, God ! the awful roaring of that tornado ! 
It seemed as though the whole universe was being torn to 
atoms. I hear it still as it tore the house from over our heads. 
As the roaring noise grew less, we took courage and raised our 
eyes. There was naught above us but the angry heavens. The 
cyclone had passed on in its work of destruction and left us 
but the sky for our roof. Upwards we raised our eyes, and 
fervently gave thanks for the preservation of our lives. With 
the exception of a few flesh wounds on the side of my face and 
a slight cut behind my wife's ear, we escaped all bodily injury. 
But we must begin life's battle over again and work as we 
never did before. We looked about us for means of egress. 
The stairs were demolished and helping to swell the debris. A 
two-by-eight plank lay slantwise, and on that we climbed to the 
surface. There before me lay the remains of our home, my 
wife's piano standing upright about fifty feet from where it 
originally stood divested of part of its beautiful casing. But 
my wife, coming towards me, cried out, "Our neighbors, our 
neighbors V There a sight met our gaze. The homes of Mr. 
Link, Mr. Kuhn and Mr. Boardman were swept away, and the 
bare cellars alone, where the families took refuge, were left. 
Everything above ground, no matter what its size or strength, 
was carried before the monster in its course. But how 
fared our good neighbors ? Doctor Gerard's home, which stood 
next to ours on the south, facing Second street, where our lawns 
met, was standing, but the south wing was deprived of its roof. 
By this time, the rain was pouring like a deluge, following the 



20 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

cyclone, and we must have shelter, so on we went to tlie next 
residence, our esteemed baid^er, Mr. F. Bartlett's, who kindly 
met us, saying they all had escaped, but the house was wrecked. 
His was a large, square, brown frame, two stories, with base- 
ment and attic, the latter ornamented by a handsome cupola. 
This cupola was blown off, and the rain came through the 
aperture in torrents. To mitigate that to a certain extent, we 
managed to secure one of our carpets, a seamless art rug, which 
did good service by throwing it over the aperture where the 
cupola covered, thus preventing the house from being flooded. 
We remained at Mr. Bartlett's a few days, then friends brought 
my wife off to St. Paul. On the opposite corner of the street 
from us stood the home of Mr. Kuhn, a handsome Avhite frame 
residence, surrounded by magnificent shade trees. Like ours, 
they were of forty years' growth, and planted by the hands of 
"Father Bartlett," who built the home for himself in tJie early 
days of jS^ew Richmond's infancy. He with a few others, long 
since laid to rest, were the pioneers of the place. This home 
the old gentleman had bailt to suit himself. The one we occu- 
pied, directly across the street from the above, wAs a pretty, 
cream colored frame, with green blinds. It consisted of a 
main building with two wings, one facing nortii, the other west. 
The nortli wing consisted of kitchen, woodshed, etc. The west 
wing contained living rooms ; the main building, parlors down- 
stairs, upstairs bedrooms. There were porches, but above all 
lovely shade trees, unsurpassed in beauty anywhere under the 
sun. Such was our home. Such were the many homes de- 
stroyed by the tornado of June 12th, 1899. Mr. F. Bartlett 
was the owner of these residences. That gentleman lost about 
$10,000 by the cyclone. Flis insurance was of no avail, as it 
did not include cyclones. Mr. Olson Avas the only man in JSTew 
Kichmond who received insurance for cyclonic destruction, he 
being insured but one day before. Fire broke out in Mr. O. J. 
Williams' hardware store after the cyclone. The insurance com- 
pany compromised and gave him half the amount. These were 
the onlv two instances of ol;)tainin2: insurance. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 21 

What need is there to retell the horrors that tu<»k phicc at 
New Kiehmoiid on that fatal day, June 12th, 1S99 ( And what 
need to attempt to describe what could not be described 'i Xo 
lunnan tongue can describe them. No human hand, however 
skillful, can write them dowii. It is all too horrible for words, 
too pitiful for ordinary human sympathy, too marvelous for 
credence. Aside from the destruction, which was complete, 
and the loss of life, which is remarkable mainly in that it was 
not greater, there is enough of the minor details of the storm 
to establish a library of romance. The bare truth of the New 
Richmond storm is so vastly superior to the tale of a dreamer 
that one hesitates to repeat it. There is always danger of over- 
straining the credulity of the reader. That 1 don't wish to do. 
(Author.) 

Not the strangest part of the story was the vitality shown by 
the surviving business men : In less than three days even after 
the storm, and while the grave diggers -were still busy in the 
cemeteries, the sounds of hammer and saw could be heard mak- 
ing new shops for the merchants. Even before the debris had 
been carted from the still warm foundation stones, lumber Avas 
on hand for new stores, and clerks in the Minneapolis and St. 
Paul wholesale houses were filling orders for new stocks of 
goods. 

It was not long before New Richmond was a busy trading 
center again. Enterprise cannot be blown away by storm or 
droAvned by flood. Well, a busy town it may be (if it does not 
overdo itself), but for years it will exhibit vacant lots, unre- 
bnilt homes, bare saags of trees, which novo- move Avill be the 
glory of New Richmond; with homes showing patched roofs, 
and many outside marks of the terrible visitation of that dav in 
June, 1890. And it will be long before the saddened hearts 
will forget to mourn and the poignant grief will be mellowed 
into submission to the Divine will. Time can do wonders for 
New Richmond, but not everything. Yet at this writing 
(]\[areh 0th, 1900) one would be surprised at the advancement, 
the progress of New Richmond, as far as new solid Iniildings 



22 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

are concerned. They appear to forget that a cyclone would, if 
it ever made another visitation, make little of their solidity. 
y(;t we hope in the mercy of God that such a catastrophe may 
Bever visit us a second time ! 

MANY TALES OF TERROR, AS TOLD BY PASSENGERS FROM 
THE STRICKEN CITY— THEY RELATE SAD EXPERIENCES. 

Owing to the fact that there were practically no telegraph 
lines which could be iised between the different cities and the 
storm section^ when passengers would arrive at the various 
Btations they would be besieged by anxious inquirers regarding 
the fate of relatives or friends. It was also difficult to learn 
when the trains would arrive from that section of Wisconsin, 
Telegraph operators were kept busy answering anxious ques- 
tions regarding the time of the arrival of trains from the 
stricken city. 

Conductor J. F. Kelly, of the Omaha line, whose train was 
several liours late, in remarking upon the damages of the storm, 
■said : ''The telegraph lines all over that entire section are down, 
broken or disarranged. We left Duluth at 11 p. m., and when 
we reached Clayton we found that the telegraph lines were use- 
less. From there until we reached a point several miles 
south of New Richmond we found that the lines had been 
jilmost entirely destroyed. It will probably not be very long 
iiimtil they are able to send messages through to New Richmond, 
but it will take several days to repair the damage." He con- 
tinues : "The scene at New Richmond was horrible. The 
storm seemed not content with blowing things around and de- 
stroying them, but literally chewed everything to pieces. Ma- 
chinery which seemed heavy enough to withstand any force 
which the elements could bring against it was twisted and turned 
a thousand different ways. A heavy piece of mowing machinery 
was deposited near the track, and was twisted and turned until 
it hardly retained its form in any part. The trees were twisted 
turned and broken in every conceivable shape." 

Mr. Kelly continues: "We took on a passenger who was 
eating supper in the Nicollet Hotel, New Richmond, the time 
of the storm. A board was sent through the roof and killed 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. '23 

the waitress and three men who were eating supper at the same 
table. This was but one of the terrible effects of the storm. 
I cannot attempt to describe the horrors of the scene, and even 
now it makes me sick to think of them. I would advise no man 
to go to the place, as he will see sights which will never disap- 
pear from his mind. I hope it may never be n\v misfortime 
to see such a thing again.'' 

DR. BOLKCOM'S STORY. 

Dr. Bolkcom of Clear Lake, a small town a short distance 
north of New Richmond, hurried to the stricken citv to render 
all the assistance in his power. He tells the following : Speak- 
ing of Clear Lake, he said, there w^as not a great deal of damage 
done there, beyond blowing in the fronts of several stores and 
turning over trees and outhouses. South of town the storm 
was more severe, and he had seen two men who were killed and 
several others were badly injured. 

"You cannot imagine such a sight as was presented at Xew 
Richmond," he said to us on board the train. "The entire town 
seemed wiped out and nothing but a mass of brick, stone and 
building material was visible. The smoke which ascends from 
the ruins, which have caught fire, almost hides the ruins them- 
selves. Burned bodies, -which are mangled beyond recognition, 
were being taken from the ruins when I came away, and it is 
difficult to estimate the total number killed and injured. In 
many places the heat is so intense that there are no means of 
knowing just how many persons still lie under the ruins. There 
are no means whatever of telling how many throughout the sur- 
rounding country have perished. 

"The sight is indeed terrible. In all my medical career I 
have not had occasion to view such a sight as was presented to 
me there. The wind had twisted everything to pieces and 
seemed bent on destroying every object in sight. A heavy iron 
wagon bridge, which stretched across the river at that place, 
was taken up bodily and thrown into a nearby field. One 



24 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

cannot imagine the horror of the sccik^ unh'>;s he is right there 
to view it." 

The train that brought Dr. Bolkcom to St. Paul brought 
about forty injured. They were taken to the several city hos- 
pitals, and only two sufferers were brought to Minneapolis. 
They were the aged parents of John K. McClure, grocer, at 
301 University avenue southeast. The old gentleman received 
some severe bruises, but was able to walk. Both were at- 
tended by their son. The old lady was most severely injured, 
and was unconscious from the time of the storm till she calmly 
pa^^sed away to a better land. 

CONDUCTOR HOEFFLE OF THE WISCONSIN CENTRAL TRAIN 
GIVES A GRAPHIC PICTURE OF THE DESOLATED CITY, AS 
HE PASSED THROUGH ON THE 13TH, THE DAY AFTER THE 
OCCURRENCE. 

"The whole center of the town has beeii torn out bodily," he 
said. "All that big group of brick buildings which looked as 
if they would stand for years have been leveled in a day to a 
heap of scattered masonry. ISTot a building of the business 
portion of the town has even a fragment of a wall left standing, 
although a few of the residences about the outskirts of the 
town were untouched by the storm. Everywhere the rescuing 
parties could be seen engaged in the task of searching the ruins 
for the bodies of the dead. The telegraph operator told me 
that 100 dead had already been recovered and that in all prob- 
ability they would mount up above 200." 

A. K. Bradley of ]\Iilwaukee, who spent some hours in [NTew 
Richmond viewing the ruins the next day after it occurred, said : 

"The results of the storm would, in some cases, have been 
amusing, were it not for the awful loss of life. In some cases 
the roof would be torn off a house and the walls left standing 
intact. In one case a house was torn up and carried away 
bodily, and in the ruins of the foundation stood the keyboard 
and part of the box of a piano. Out upon the prairie, horses 
and cows lay dead on the field with no signs of having been 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 25 

struck by falling trees or flying timbers. The animals had 
apparently been lifted np and dashed to the ground by the 
force of the storm with sufficient force to kill them instantly. 
On another side would be seen part of a brick wall standing, 
with straws and grass driven firmly into the mortar by the fury 
of the tornado. 

'^'The saddest and most horrible part of the whole affair, 
however, was the results of the fire. Rescue parties searching 
the ruins would come upon dismembered bodies scattered about 
under the ruins. A searcher would see the feet of a man pro- 
truding from a pile of ruined masonry, and, pulling, would 
find merely the legs severed from the body. Another would 
find a head torn from the trunk, and the latter would be dis- 
covered a dozen feet away. Bodies^were discovered burned to a 
crisp, or mutilated and crushed by the falling walls so as to be 
unrecognizable." 

ANOTHER GENTLEMAN, A MR. N. B. PUTNAM, STAYED AT THE 
TOWN BUT A SHORT TIME, AND SAYS HE SAW ALL THAT 
HE CARED TO OF HUMAN MISERY. IN RELATING WHAT 
HE SAW, HE SAID: 

"It is a terrible sight. The lurid flames shoot up every now 
and then above the dense smoke and remind one of the pictures 
of hell. Before I left they were making some headway in 
subduing the flames, but when I arrived it was a smoking, 
burning ruin from end to end. In one cellar which I noticed 
near the center of the town there were eight human bodies, all 
more or less bruised and mangled. iSTo attempt could be made 
to remove them from the cellar, as the flames were playing all 
about them and were slowly consuming them. In many places 
where the fire was burning the woodwork of the fallen build- 
ings, I noticed hmnan limbs or heads which were lying amidst 
the flames. The sight was terrible. 

"Another terrible sight was the ])oor people who were not 
injured, if possible, even more heart-rending than that of those 
who had died. In many places friends or relatives of those 
who had perished were looking about among the ruins, trying 



26 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

to discover, if possible, -where their bodies lay. Each one was 
trying to find a loved one, and in many cases a look of almost 
idiotic frenzy was upon their faces. In some places old, de- 
crepit men or women were hunting about, picking up a few 
valueless articles of personal property, while near them lay the 
body of a victim of the storm. Many of them seemed neither 
to cave for the heat or the smoke, but peered about among the 
ruins as if half wishing, half fearing to find the object for which 
they searched. 

''The disaster was not without its amusing features, how- 
ever. One old couple were in a cellar and their own cook 
stove, which had been in the room above them, was deposited 
between them without injuring either in the least. One old 
farmer, oblivious to the horrors of his surroundings, hunted 
a larger part of the morning for an organ which he had just 
purchased. It was finally found in a pasture some distance 
away, with hardly a semblance of its former shape. Several 
people were in a cellar, when the storm took the home from 
over their heads. Hardly had it gone, when a neighbor's cup- 
board was deposited beside them in the cellar. 

"One noticeable thing in connection Avith the cyclone was 
that several iron safes, which had withstood the shock, were left 
open, the doors having been wrenched from the hinges and 
broken oft'. The dead bodies of animals were scattered all 
over the ground, and from one point I could count thirty or 
forty almost within a stone's throw." 

FIRST OUTSIDE PHYSICIAN— FIRST PHYSICIAN ON THE SCENE 
—DR. BOOTHBY OF HAMMOND, WIS. 

He arrived on the scene of the cyclone but a few hours after 
it passed, and devoted his entire time, without rest or sleep, 
to caring for the injured and aiding in the rescue work. He 
accompanied the injured to the hospitals in St. Paul. He was 
the first to give an account of the terrible havoc wrought by 
the storm to the press. He gave details which the reporters did 
not or could not furnish. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 27 

"The scenes which the physicians and nurses have witnessed 
at New Richmond are enongh to make one's blood run cold. 
No one who has not seen the city as it now is can form even 
a faint idea of the terrible work of the cyclone. The storm 
made a clean sweep of the business portion of the city, striking 
just before the employes of the different stores would have left 
for supper, and completely wrecking everything in its course. 
Substantial brick store buildings went down before the storm 
like card houses, imprisoning in the ruins a very large num- 
ber of persons who had no warning of their danger. Of the 
business portion of l^ew Richmond, nothing remains except 
a tangled mass of debris, in which are yet, we fear, the bodies 
of a great many people. 

"About 9 o'clock at night word came from the telegraph 
office that J^ew Richmond had been completely wiped out. I at 
once left for the scene of the storm, carrying instruments and 
supplies for the relief of the injured. I learned afterwards 
that two young men, whose names I do not know, left New 
Richmond at once after the storm passed and drove with all 
speed to Roberts, ten miles south, where they secured commu- 
nication by wire with Hammond, and gave word of what had 
happened. 

"The Hammond relief arrived before midnight, and found 
what had been one of the most beautiful towns in Wisconsin, 
now a veritable charnel house. Everything was shrouded in 
inky darkness, and the work of relieving the suffering and 
caring for those near to death proceeded under circumstances 
which were heart-breaking. The New Richmond physicians 
did noble work. They were, of course, the first on the ground, 
and their efforts accomplished what would at first have seemed 
impossible. 

"The St. Paul relief train arrived at an opportune time, and 
the nurses and physicians were a Godsend. At the time I 
arrived on the scene, fire had broken out in several quarters 
and iiddod to tbe liorror." 



28 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

*'The greatest need at present," continues Dr. Boothby, "is 
a'^ditional assistance in the way of nurses. We do not want 
any more visitors, and the city has doctors sufficient to care 
for all who need their attention. As soon as it became known 
that the city had been visited by a cyclone, people began to 
come. The crowds impede our progress in clearing away the 
debris and removing the bodies, and are a great inconvenience. 

"There has been some complaint that among the strangers 
who have drifted into town are many who come to loot the 
ruins and desecrate the dead, but no instances of this kind 
have come to my personal attention. 

"]^o, I cannot tell you how many are killed. The Catholic 
Church is being used as a temporary morgue until other accom- 
modations can be furnished, as is also the schoolhouse." 

ONE OF THE SURVIVORS. 

C. H. HURRY'S LIFE SAVED IN THE BASEMENT OF THE 
NICOLLET HOTEL. 

C. H. Murry, a traveling man for the wholesale tea house 
o.'l AVilliarn McMurry & Co., of East Third street, St. Paul, 
went through the cyclone at l^ew Kichmond. He said: 

"I was stopping at the Nicollet House, a three-story building, 
kept as a hotel by Colonel C. D. McKimion. T never saw so 
many people in the town before. There was a circus in the 
town, and there was to be a dance after the performance in the 
evening, and the streets were crowded with young people intent 
on the circus and the dance. At 6 o'clock I went to dinner at 
the hotel. Mrs. McKiiinon, the wife of the proprietor, came 
rushing in from the kitchen, crying out, 'Cyclone,' and we ran 
for the cellar without stopping to ask questions. We wfere 
scarcely there when the cyclone struck the hotel. 

"One man, named Carey, I think, was too late, and was 
blown l)ack into the dining-room and killed. The girl that 
served ns at the table was killed. I do not know her name. 
One of the laundry girls, who got int.. the eellar. was struck 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 29 

by a falling beam and killed. The ^NfcKinnon family did not 
get to the cellar. Mrs. McKinnon ran for her children, and 
the family were in a small room in front. They sheltered 
themselves as well as they could from falling rubbish, using a 
marble-topped table for protection, but one of the children was 
killed. After the storm had passed, Mr. McKinnon found 
.mother child standing on the top of the ruins of the hotel, 
uninjured. 

''The cyclone and the ruin were all over by 6 :07, for the 
Wisconsin Central depot clerk marked that hour, as we found, 
after the storm. After the cyclone had passed, the wind blew 
with terrific violence and the rain fell in torrents, interrupting 
the work of rescue. I stayed and worked with several other 
traveling men until we thought we could do no more, and then 
dug my samples from the ruins and came to St. Paul on the 
train. 

"I believe there were five people killed at the hotel — two 
men, one child, the table girl and the laundry girl. Carey 
who was killed there, was a druggist and lived in the town. 
The fire started at the south end of the town, the farthest from 
the hotel. It blazed up immediately after the cyclone, and I 
think caught in the ruins of a hardware store. There were 
about seven people in the cellar of the hotel. When the cy- 
clone was on us it sounded exactly like a railroad train crossing 
a bridge." 

"Xew Richmond, June 13. — (Times Special) — Late to- 
night the St. Paul police, who had been on giiard during the 
day, were replaced by Company H of the Tenth Wisconsin Bat- 
talion from Chippewa Falls, under command of Captain Hart- 
well. The militia will remain in control until matters are 
finally adjusted." 



30 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 




SAFE FROM NEW RICHMOND ROLLER MILL CO.'S OFFICE, 
BLOWN 100 FEET. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 31 



FURY OF THE WHIRLWIND, 



EVERYTHING BEFORE IT LEVELED TO THE GROUND BY ITS 
AWFUL FORCE. 

Xew Richmond, Wis., June 13. — The storm struck this city 
at a few minutes past six, Monday evening. It was heralded 
by a noise like commingled crashing of thousands of thunder- 
bolts. The familiar funnel-shaped cloud could be seen ap- 
proaching with the speed of the wind, and although the warn- 
ing given allowed but a fcAv seconds' time for preparation, 
hundreds of people saved their lives b}^ fleeing to the cellars. 
In some cases, however, this proved abortive. 

Notably was this the fact in the Williams dry goods store, 
where tlie cellar proved a veritable death trap. Just how 
many were killed there may never be known. The building 
Avas a substantial two-story affair, built of heavy stone, and was 
thought to be tornado proof. The street in front of it was 
crowded with people, in consequence of the circus being in 
town, many of whom rushed inside for protection, only to 
meet their death. In fact, it is said that one of the employes 
of the store stood for a moment in the doorway and urged the 
people to come inside where they would be safe. The invita- 
tion was accepted by as many as could reach the supposed 
harbor before the cloud struck, and the result was the highest 
rate of mortality recorded in any place in the city. The great 
walls of the building were picked up and hurled down upon 
the cowering people within, crushing their lives out instantly. 
Only a few escaped alive. The history of the miraculous 
escape of 'Mr. and Mrs. Ward Williams is told elsewhere. 
(Author.) 



32 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

MANY NARROW ESCAPES. 

'riii'i-o Avero, of course, the usual number of miraculous es- 
capes, 'riie little (lauiiiiter of Mr. Beebe was in a second-story 
room of a l)riek l)uiklino' which was entirely demolished. Others 
were in the room with her, but she alone escaped with her life. 
She was much injured. Walter W. Beebe and Dr. Wilber 
sought shelter in the cellar of Patton & Carey's drug store. 
When the walls fell, a large quantity of chloroform and ether 
was liberated, and they came very near to suffocation, but 
finally niaiiaged to escape to the open air. Other escapes no 
less remarkable w^ere recorded on every hand. The two pro- 
prietors of this drug store, Mr. Oarey and Mr. »Patton, were 
both killed. _ 

The family of Harrison Mattison sought safety in the cellar 
of their house, located about two miles southeast of Hudson. 
The Tipi)er part of the house was lifted up bodily, but the floor 
remained, and the family beneath were so frightened they did 
not realize that the cyclone had passed until a party of neigh- 
bors arrived and walked about over their heads. Then they 
came out, entirely unhurt. 

The violence of the storm lasted but about twenty seconds in 
all, and although brief, the agony of those few moments will 
remain long in the memories of those who have lived to tell 
the tale. 

The St. Paul relief train arrived at an opportune time, and 
they had, if possible, a still more terrible foe with 
which to contend. Immediately upon the abatement of the 
wind, flames began to make their appearance amidst the debris 
of what was a city a few moments before. The business 
portion was laid to waste ; the buildings were not collapsed ; 
they were utterly shattered, torn to splinters and scattered as 
egg shells before the fury of the wind. 

Awful were the scenes and occurrences following. Stifled 
cries for help were to be heard on every side. Men sought 
their wives, wives tlioir husbands, and crazed parents their 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. X) 

fliikli'on. The struggles of animals pinioned beiicatli walls 
and timbers smote upon the ear, and then the ever increasing 
crackle of the flames as they gained headway were heard. 
Then it was that the work of rescue began. Men fighting 
grimly, iimni'uny f(n' the life of each poor pinioned wretch as 
their cries for help were located. Ah I how they worked ! But 
they rescued many. 

Private homes, churches, everything which could still serve 
as shelter were converted into hospitals, and to these the dead 
and dying were carried. Doctors — although there were four 
practitioners belonging to the town, one was from home twelve 
miles on a sick call and anotlier was severely injured. The 
other tAvo, althoiigh they did their utmost for the sufferers, 
Avere without the requisite sedatives, bandages, etc., which are 
indispensable in the case of the injured. Thus handicapped, 
they could render l»nt little assistance. 

FIRST RELIEF TRAIN. 

This Mas the condition of affairs on the arrival of the first 
relief train shortly after midnight over the Wisconsin Central 
line from Chippewa Falls. This train was the response to 
the heart-rending ap])eal of a devastated city, flashed over the 
wires, which were afterwards down and useless. In an in- 
credibly short space of time the train was flying on its mission 
of mercy, laden with ])hysicians, with surgical supplies, and 
volunteers to help them, all of wluun luideitook this wild night's 
ride for sweet charity's sake. 

THE WILD RUN CONTINl'ED. 

At each small station along the entire route, over sixty miles, 
anxious men offered their services and were gladly taken along. 
The run of this relief train was a wild one and attended with 
manv dangers. The lie;ht train idnniicd ilir<'ni:h the niu'ht. 
Telegraphic communication was impossible; there were no or- 
i]f'v< r<> guide. The di-iving rain which had been ]iouring for 



34 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

hours added a constant danger of washouts, and, above all, the 
night express from Chicago was somewhere on the line, coming 
in the opposite direction. On they ran, and they were suc- 
cessful. It was made without mishap, and never was an ex- 
pedition of this kind more of a Godsend, nor more opportune 
in its arrival. All hail to that Chippewa Falls train! That 
noble deed should be heralded in every country under the sun ! 
(Author.) 

SURGEONS SOON AT WORK. 

Ten physicians were on this relief train, who were silently 
welcomed by the sad-faced citizens gathered at the station. 
Immediately a plan of organized relief was devised, five of the 
doctors going to the Congregational Church, where the larger 
portion of the injured lay, and the rest were conducted to 
different private residences, the doors of which had been thrown 
open to accommodate the unfortunate ones. This resulted in 
the first and second Avards of the city being thoroughly covered 
until more assistance could arrive. 

The sights which confronted the rescuers were awful. The 
dragging of some mangled, helpless creature from the ruins was 
inexpressibly sad. As usual in cases of catastrophe, hotels 
figured largely in the tragedy. The Hotel J^icollet of jSTew 
Richmond was no exception to the general rule. Work upon 
the ruins of this building was begun among the first, and al- 
though it cannot be definitely determined, it is thought that at 
least eight perished among the hotel ruins. 

Perhaps one of the saddest cases was the death of Miss Katie 
McKinnon, the eldest daughter of the landlord. Colonel Mc- 
Kinnon, a bright, beautiful and talented girl of 15 years. 
Shortly before 6 o'clock she had gone to her room. She was 
never seen alive after that. In the cold, gray dawn of the 
following morning her bruised and battered form was cut from 
under the pinioning timbers. There lay their once cheerful, 
happy child. Oh, cyclones ! what bleeding hearts you have left 
behind ! The remainder of Colonel McKinnon's family were 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 35 

fortnuate, and although the hiudlord, his wife and remaining 
two daughters, Alice and Birdie, had miraculous escapes, they 
were rescued from the ruins unharmed. It was to his youngest 
daughter, Birdie, that a most strange and peculiar thing hap- 
pened, the child escaping death in an unaccountable way. It 
seems that upon the discovery of the approach of the storm, Mr. 
McKinnon had just time in which to place his little daughter 
in an opening in the partitions of the walls. Neither he nor 
his wife had time to seek a place of safety for themselves. The 
storm struck the building and reduced it to splinters, save for 
the large basement, which is occupied by the sample room. D. 
J. McKenzie, who was in this room, says that upon rushing out 
after the storm, the first sight that met his eyes was little Birdie 
sitting quietly upon the highest point of the heap of debris 
which alone remained of the hotel. The child was entirely 
unhurt. How this marvel occurred it is impossible to tell, but 
the fact remains. Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon were buried im- 
mediately beneath where the child sat, and although somewhat 
bruised, were not seriously injured. Three traveling men and 
two of the dining-room girls of the hotel saved their lives by 
tumbling down a stairway leading from the dining-room to the 
basement. One of these men was V. E. Brewer, a jewelry 
salesman. His trunks, containing much valuable goods, he 
was fortunate to recover. 

CERTAIN INCIDENTS. 

Although as a general rule the men forming the rescuing 
parties were noble, brave-hearted fellows, having only the desire 
to save and relieve from pain the unfortunates, yet there were 
deplorable incidents of display of the brutal. 

"Be careful," cries one man, "your ax will go too deep. Be 
careful." Then the response : "What's the difference ? He's 
dead." Incidents like these, though they did occur, were rare, 
however. 



36 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 




IAS R. HENDERSON S RESIDENCE. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 37 

One yoir.iiv girl <if IS years of age experienced a most won- 
derful cscajK' frcini the awful death of being smothered under 
the cullapse of one of the principal buiklings on Main street. 
The yoinig lady in question found herself, after tlie shock, in 
a space sufficient ly large enough to alhjw free movement to 
her I)(i(ly. N^aturally, the brave girl begaii tearing her way 
thr(.>ngli the heaps of broken boards and timber, i^early pros- 
trated, she at last reached an opening, through which she 
crawled, reaeliing the street unharmed. 

THE STRICKEN CITY IS A VERITABLE SCENE OF DESOLATION. 

About 5 :''j() p. m., June lo : The sky was dark and lowering. 
The dark clouds overhanging the town moved together and 
preci])itated a downfall of rain. The sky darkened and the 
downfall increased until it approached a cyclonic appearance. 
The scene was a grim reminder of the i)revi<>us evening's ca- 
lamity, which blotted out the town and left death in its train. 
The downfall continued over an hour. (Jiant trunks of 
stripped trees stood out in grim significance, while smoke from 
the burning debris hovered over the ruins. The cellars again 
became the place of refuge for the frightened people. 

Tlimngh it all the work of rescue continueil without inter- 
ruption. .Men worked their way carefully over the debris, paus- 
ing here and there to throw aside a tindjer and ])eer more closely 
into tile nuiss of ruins. Xot infi'equently the lnw moan of a 
])ini(tne<l victim told of the latter's presence, and willing hands 
wiuked diligently for the unfortunate. There was no cessation. 
The ap})roaeh of night caused no pause. Aided by flickering 
lanterns, elVorts eoutinued. Kepoi-t,-> had heen juade to the 
relief ('((unuittee of the kn^wn niissing, and they were looked 
for. The town was tilled with circus visitcu's Monday. How 
many of the latter met death is a mere conjecture. There may 
have been a score, or ])ossibly less. Most industrious help was 
given by the cori)S of the Twin Cities, Sfillwatcr. Chippewa 
Falls and other ]tlaces. 



3S THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

The donations of food and clothing supplies which were so 
generously sent from St. Paul and Minneapolis were given out 
to the sufferers at Mr. A. Baker's residence, which was so nobly 
given up for that purpose. On the lawn of the Baker resi- 
dence, Company C of Chippewa, in charge of Captain Hart- 
ley, erected their tents. 

THE ST. PAUL FIREMEN BUSY. 

The assistance given by the generous Omaha railroad should 
forever live in the minds of the ISTew Richmond people. It 
clieered their broken hearts. Special trains were run from St. 
Paul -at frequent intervals, whenever two or more injured were 
found. Chief Goss and twelve officers gave material assistance 
and prevented possible plunder. The crooks got in, in spite 
of the stringent regulations, and were getting in their plunder. 
One poor maimed sufferer was obliged to submit to his watch 
being taken and his pockets rifled of their contents, and he 
unable to defend himself. There were several similar cases. 

ARRIVAL OF FIRE ENGINES. 

The arrival of several pieces of apparatus from the St. Paul 
department was welcomed. Water was at once thrown on the 
burning ruins with immediate effect. 

Congressman Jenkins was early on the scene and lent val- 
uable aid. After a conference, a dispatch was sent the gov- 
ernor, beseeching aid. Late in the day a reply from the 
executive stated he would send a representative in the morning 
to look over the scene and report to him. This was not wdiat 
was expected from the governor of the state, and local officers 
denounced the governor's stand. 

They say people are homeless and without money. Bodies 
of many dead await interment. Assistance in the way of 
1)11 rial needs had been generously offered by Minnesota, but 
politely declined, as the survivors felt Wisconsin could take 
care of its dead. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 39 

"Could the governor have seen one part of the tragedy," re- 
marked Mr. Jenkins to-night; "could he have witnessed the 
family of the Hon. Lawyer Hawkins — two brothers and two sis- 
ters dead ; the latter killed while walking home ; his wife, two 
daughters and youngest son, a boy of 12 years; the family laid 
out in the church — perhaps he would have acted more 
promptly." 

But the case of Mrs. Brockbank and three children furnishes 
another incident. She was taken from the ruins barely alive, 
with her three children, ranging from 4 to 9 years, clinging 
about her arms and neck. They had been covered by twelve 
feet of debris. 

As the bodies were recovered, they were brought to the 
schoolhouse, Catholic or Congregational Churches. Thence 
they were taken to the cemeteries, except in a few cases, where 
homes still stood in which the remains can be kept for a few 
hours, during which the final ttibute of love could be tendered 
by the bereaved families. The bodies were prepared for burial 
by local and visiting undertakers, and as soon as identified were 
marked and disposed of as their friends requested. 

NURSES DO GOOD WORK. 

Bev. Dr. Degnan spent some sleepless nights and days looking 
after the bodies and souls of his parishioners. He was one 
of the coolest and best workers among the many who volun- 
teered their aid. ISTurses and physicians from St. Paul, who 
had come down by special train on the Omaha road as soon as 
news of the disaster reached the Minnesota capital, were of 
great help, all night and day. When the day closed all the 
seriously injured were believed to have been cared for. Those 
whose injuries were serious, but whose chances of recovery 
were believed to be good, were quickly sent to the hospitals of 
St. Paul, where better care could be given them. The slightly 
injured and those whose condition seemed hopeless were kept 
here, and were given the best attention possible. 



40 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

The next day after the calamity hundreds of morbidly curious 
people from neighboring towns and cities thronged our town, 
and crowded about those whose hearts had l)een wrung with 
anguish. The desolate view of Xew Kichmond in those days 
will not soon be forgotten. Among the broken fragments of 
our homes we wandered helplessly, some striving aimlessly and 
hopelessly to gather what had been left. 

On the east and west limits of the city many houses were 
still standing with little or no damage, and to these homes the 
occupants welcomed their less fortunate neighbors and friends, 
giving them such aid as was possible aiid the true sympathy 
that means so much to stricken souls. 

Late in the night of the 13th, the fire broke out afresh. The 
rain having ceased, seemed the signal for the dreadful flames 
to get in their work of terrible destruction. Although strength- 
ened by additional apparatus from dear St. Paul, who was our 
best friend in our hour of need,' the fire department Avas unal:>le 
to cope with the flames. A drizzling rain set in about o'clock, 
but that had little eft'ect. The fire was but too near that portion 
of the town where the missing bodies were supposed to be. 
With desperate eftorts the work of rescue continued, l)ut two 
victims only rewarded the devoted band. They were the re- 
mains of Michael Harrington, an aged man, and Annie Clough, 
employed in the JSTicoUet Hotel. The latter, poor girl, was 
found in an attitude of work, surrounded by dishes and kitchen 
utensils. Joseph Hirsch was removed from the debris. He 
suffered serious injury, but was not dangerously hurt. 

Another annoyance to the afflicted town was the steady con- 
gregation of toughs. They actually held up some of the de- 
fenceless people during the night. Toughs is too tame a 
name. Ghouls appears to me more appropriate. 'No wonder 
we hailed the coming of the militia to defend us. These were 
awful days to the survivors of N^ew Richmond. When I look 
back now it seems all like a hideous dream. Ah, I wish it 
were but a dream I But when one looks arcnind in familiar 
places where the mass of the people would gatlier together, how 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



41 



iiKiiiv lire missed I 'rii(iiii;li \ve iiiiiv ii«it liiivr lust relal i\cs, 
\cl \\i' iliil friends that we l«,>ved ; hriulit (•liaractei-> that made it 
|deasaiii to meet; clieerfiil, hapi)y faces we will never see again. 
.\ 1'iiend said to me a few days ago: "I feel like cursing the 
«y(di)nc. I have lost my accumulations of years. I must l)e- 
iiin life's problem over again." .Vnotlier said: "I am too old 
to work fpr a fortune. V\\\y was 1 spared to meet crushing 
poverty, when I might be surrounded by many comforts f ' 
Wait, — a few years, my friend, will solve the mystery. Greater 
comforts may await you in a brighter, i)etter world, where one 
will never fear that a cyclone will injure them, or that they 
will lose their fortunes. TFeaven is rich in foi-tunes foi- the 
blessed. (Author.) 



ItlKD's i:VF. VIEW or ItlSINESS SECTION AI-TKK THE STOKM. 



42 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



BUILDINGS RAZED TO THE GROUND. 



ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-ONE RESIDENCES AND BUSINESS 
PLACES DEMOLISHED. 

Starting at the south end of the town, the following is a 
partial list of the • buildings completely demolished: 

Mrs. Dayton, residence and barn. 

Willard Wells, residence and barn. He was killed. 

Holland Beck's residence and barn. 

H. Tafts and brother's three residences. 

Samuel Horn, residence. 

Mrs. John McHenry, three residences. 

Charles Bell, residence occupied by Fred La Pointe, who 
suffered leg, arm and ribs. 

Two residences, names unknown. 

Henry Beal, residence and barn, 

Anthony Early, a new residence. He was killed. 

Three other residences, owned by Smith estate. 

Mr. O'Brien, barber, residence. 

W. H. Hopkins, residence. He was badly bruisd. 

Edward Perry, residence. 

M. S. Bell, residence, occupied by a Baptist minister. 

James Gifford, residence. 

Dr. Knapp, residence. He and his wife injured. 

James O'Brien, two residences. 

Lawyer S. IST. HaAvkins, three residences. Two daughters 
and youngest son, his wife and Mr. Early, all dead ; the latter 
his father-in-law. 

Mr. Frank W. Bartlett, three residences, occupied, respec- 
tively, by A. G. Boehm, Dr. Gerard and F. W. Kuhn. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 43 

WEST SIDE OF MAIN STREET. 

Henry Beal, grocery store. 

Ward L. Williams, dry goods. 

W. W. Bixby, furniture. He was killed. 

'New Kichmond Bank. 

E. O. Kaye, drug store. 

Padden & Hughes, hardware. 

Bell & Smith, meat market. 

Justin Hicks, grocery store. He was killed. 

William Fink, bakery. 

O. J. Williams, hardware. 

Belle E. Aldrich, drug store. 

M. J. Scott, restaurant. 

Mrs. Gavin, millinery. 

H. W. Starr, jewelry. 

H. H. Bigelow, photographer. He was killed. 

L. O. Tatro, barber shop. 

Parden Brothers, grocery. W. Parden was killed. 

Ben Powell, novelty store. 

]\Irs. Brockbank, notion store. 

E. A. Glover, general store. 

Manufacturers' Bank. 

Hotel IS'icoUet. 

E. J. Scott, printing office. 

EAST SIDE OF MAIN STREET. 

D. C. Manies, livery stable. 

T. Johnson, harness maker. 

T. Mulroney, seed store. 

D. Dodge (S: Berg, grocery and dry goods. 

Oleson & Legard, tailors. Mr. Legard killed. 

John Avery, tinner. 

Lew Winters, jewelry. 

California Wine House. 

Earl Dawley, confectionery. 



44 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

F. T. Bannister, photographer. 

C. H. Todd, jewelry. 

T. P. Martin, barber. He was killed. 

John Johnson, saloon. 

Mark Casey, furniture store. 

E. J. Thompson, clothing store. 

William Fitzgerald, grocer. 

Patten & Carey, druggists. Both killed. 

JSTewell Brothers, dry goods and groceries. 

PostofHce. 

L. Leith's machinery store. 

PTarrington, blacksmith shop. 

C. Cananova & Conrad, saloon. 

Cullni & Greeley, saloon. 

McCarty & Tanney, grocers. 

Samuel Johns, shoe store. 

Andrew Deneen, dry goods and groceries. 

Michael O'Brien, barber. 

Andrew Tobin, machinery. 

Turnon & Bently, harness and repair sliop. 

Farmers' Hotel. 

ON THE SIDE BUSINESS STREETS. 

John Lotz, meat market. 
' Weekly Republican office. 
]joehm Tobacco and Cigar i'actory. 
Charles Day, express office. 
Dr. Wade, office. 
J. Peterson, shoemaker. 
Mrs. McCarthy, dressmaker. 
Dr. Wells, dentist office. 
Henry Jaggers, machine shop. 
McGrath, blacksmith shop and residence. 
Thomas Row, five residences. 
M. S. Bell, eio'ht or ten residences and three or four stores. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 4." 

AVilli;iiii Itmtoii, residence. 

J)r. .lulnison. residence. He was seriously Imrt. 

(icorge Wells' residence. 

Wiird (iuuld, residence. He was killed. 

Hiram Foster, resi<leiice. 

Anthony [.yncli, residence. 

A. P. Kihbie, residence. 

Tlioiiias Harrington, residence. 

Tlioiiias Rosebrook, residence. He and wife killed. 

] )r. Epily's residence, office and stables. 

W. F. .Meiralley, residence and offices. 

Andrew Brown's residence, hall ami other '.mijiliims. 

T. P. Martin's residence. He was killed. 

William Hughes' residence and office. Tlis son was killed. 

I\Iark Casey's residence. 

^Ir. Olson's residence. 

Ml'. A. Lynch's residence. 

M. Williams' residence. 

Ml-. (Jonld's residence. FEe and his niorher-in-law were 
killc.j. 

Mr. (.T. Wells' residence. 

The ^fethodist Chnrcli destroyed completely. 

The ^fasoiiic Hall. Hagan's Opera Honse and Brown's riidv, 
all are gone. 

The Omaha dejxit was completely swi'pl away. 

The city power honse and water works are in ruins. 

The iron bridge across the Willow River on Main street was 
carried awav. 



46 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

What People Said who Visited New Richmond 
Before the Cyclone. 



''jSTew Richmond was one of the most picturesque of the 
smaller Wisconsin towns. It was located about fifteen miles 
directly east of Stillwater, at the junction of the ISTorth-Western 
and Wisconsin Central roads, on the Willow River. The main 
street of the town ran parallel to the North- Western tracks and 
a block distant. 

"It was substantially built up with brick and stone structures. 
The town was lighted by electricity and had a good water sys- 
tem. It was not of mushroom growth, and hence possessed the 
added beauty of large shade trees, even in the business districts. 
It boasted two banks and two hotels, and its stores were first- 
class in every particular. 

LIST OF INJURED. 

B. H. Taft, scalp wound. 

J. B. Hurley, Wisconsin Central agent ; his foot was crushed. 
Mrs. Cosgrove, 84 years old, bruised and cut. 
Miss Josephine Roscheim, slight. 
Miss Cora Roscheim, slight. 
Frank Jennings, legs broken. 
Frank Le Point, both legs broken. 
Mrs. Brockbank, hip crushed. 
John Wells, severe wound on temple and head. 
Oscar Obrase, arm broken. 
^ John Wells, a farmer, back hurt. 
William Lavell, leg broken and head cut. 
John Rybird, stone mason, back hurt. 
Harry McGraw, slight wound. 
George C. Hough, scalp wound. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 47 

Mrs. George C. Hough, severe, — now recovered. 

J. L. Eutty, face and head cut, slightly, 

Mrs. Rutty, injured severely. j 

Mr. Hall, ribs broken — severe. 

James Phillips, serious wounds. 

Bridget Phillips, serious. 

Mr. Stephen Hawkins, limb crushed severely. 

Mr. Fred Hawkins, slightly wounded. r 

Dr. Knapp, slightly wounded. 

Mrs. Knapp, slightly wounded. 

Charles Wills was severely wounded — died of his wounds. 

John Gillen^ collar-bone and arm broken. 

Mrs. John Gillen, seriously injured ; since died. 

Charles Gillen, thigh broken. 

Ward Gould, serious ; since died of wounds. 

Mrs. Gould, slightly wounded. 

Mrs. Hollinbeck, seriously wounded. 

Assistant postmaster, internal injury; serious. i 

Mr. John McCoy, leg broken. ' 

Mrs. Brockbank, leg broken. 

Pred Foster, fireman, head and arm injured. 

G. Gardinier, seriously injured. 

Mrs. E. Wells, - 

Sarah Dunbar, seriously injured. 

John Barrett, dangerously injured ; died. 

Mrs. Scott, mother, and John Scott, son, 

Henry Lewis, blacksmith, serious. 

Viva Lewis, slight. . 

Willie Hopkins, head injured. 

H. C. Hall, three ribs broken, internal injuries. 

Hans Johnson, internal injuries. 

Henry Christiansen, painter, badly hurt. '■ 

William Lavalle, ribs and leg fractured. 

Martin Strommen, shoulder injured. 

Fred Day, Chicago traveling man. 

Mrs. John ^Fc^rahan. 



48 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Edward Lotz, slightly. 

John Lotz, slightly. 

Mrs. John Lotz, severely. 

John Clarke, severely injured. 

Mrs. Clarke, severely injured. 

Eight Clarke children, painfully bruised. 

E. J. Scott, nose broken and arm sprained. 

J. Walsh, injuries about head. 

E. L. Doty, ribs fractured and badly bruised. 

Mr. Michael, Portage, Wis., with circus, severely. 

R. B. Hall, with circus, severely. 

Charles Harte, with circus, severely. 

Frank Leavey, band leader, with circus, severely. 

R. B. F. Gollmar, Avith circus, slightly. 

Henry Lewis, badly cut about head. 

Miss Lewis, arm broken. 

William Kelly, severely. 

Mrs. M. Kelly, severely. 

Mr. W. F. Mc^^ally, leg broken. 

Leonard Taft, badly hurt. 

Mrs. O'Donnell, Cylon, Wis., slightly. 

Thomas Hanlon, Stanton, leg hurt. 

Bertha McKinnon, slightly hurt. 

Lillie Klosterman, St. Paul, slightly. 

Mrs. J. Mahan. 

Pay Stone, slightly injured. 

H. W. Starr, jeweler, arm broken. 

Bertha Beebe, broken wrist. 

Thomas Newell, injured slightly. 

Michael ISTewell, three ribs broken, 

Fred Le Point, injured. 

Benjamin F. Powell, seriously. 

Lillian Livingston, slightly wounded. 

Mrs. Richards, slightly. 

Mrs. William McGrath, badly bruised. 

ISh: William McGrath, badlv bruised. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 49 

Mrs. Isidore Gerniaine, serious gash in side. 

Michael Scott, hurt on head. 

Mrs. Scott, slightly. 

James Finnegau, dislocated hip. 

Arthur Lane, Turtle Lake, slightly. 

John Barrett, slightly. 

John Bastians, seriously. 

John Wells, seriously. 

TERRIBLE BEREAVEMENT OF S. N. HAWKINS. 

One of the families to suffer most from the storm was that 
of S. !N". Hawkins, a well-known attorney of l^ew Richmond. 
Mr. Hawkins himself was seriously injured. His wife, a most 
amiable lady, two accomplished daughters, a young son, twelve 
years old, killed outright in the cyclone. His eldest son, Fred^ 
associated with his father in the law, injured. But one son, 
Robert, escajied without any injury. 

Mr. and ^Irs. A. Rosebrook were botli killed, and their two 
daughters, Cora and Josephine, were seriously injured. 

DEAD. 

On an improvised slab in the Catholic Church were laid three 
bodies, — George Stack, his wife and their only child. Happy 
in their home life, happy in themselves; never a harsh word 
came between them. They lived together' in perfect harmony, 
and died in each other's arms. The little child was found be- 
tween them, clinging to his mother's gown, witli a look of fright- 
ened agony on its innocent face. 

Mr. Stack was a skillful workman. He was engaged by Dr. 
Degnan to build the "Grotto of Lourdes," in the cemetery of 
the Catholic Church. Tt remains unlmilt. 



50 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



MESSAGES. 

GOVERNOR LIND OF MINNESOTA COMES NOBLY TO THE AID 
OP NEW RICHMOND PEOPLE. 

The following exchange of messages took place between the 
governors of Minnesota and Wisconsin : 

Honorable Edward Scofield, Governor of Wisconsin, ^ladi- 
son, Wis. — "Our people are doing everything in their power 
to alleviate distress and suflFering at 'New Richmond. Have you 
anything to suggest that I might do to further relieve the situa- 
tion ?" ' JOHN LIND, Governor. 

Honorable John Lind, Governor of Mimiesota, St. Paul, 
Minn. — "I thank you and the people of ]\Iinnesota on behalf 
of Wisconsin for your efforts to alleviate distress at New Rich- 
mond. I think we have now on the way help sufficient to meet 
the immediate necessities of the occasion." 

EDWARD SCOFIELD, 
Governor of Wisconsin. 



REFLECTIONS. 

After all lias been said ; after the horrible word-pictures 
have been draAvn by the witnesses of Monday night's tragedies, 
and after the events which liavc wrung the hearts and whitened 
the hairs of New Richmond people have passed into history, 
there will still remain with them something which can never 
be realized by those who have not been residents here. 

To see the once beautiful city a trackless waste is one thing, 
but to see the boys and girls, the men and women, those whom 
you loved and who loved you, the people whose lives had become 
a part of the very fiber of your being, Mdio were connected with 
everything that was of interest to you, to see those carried, one 
by one, followed by little processions of robitivp>;. witli scared 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 51 

A\liito faces and swiftly-beating hearts, and luirriedly buried to 
make room for the next set of mourners, is something which 
will live on in the minds of all forever. 

These are experiences which leave scars that may soften, but 
never heal. The sound of the sod falling on the many coffins, 
the sharp cries of agony of the friends, the tears that dim their 
eyes as they realize that it is a final farewell, leave impressions 
that will last until they, too, have passed through the valley of 
the shadow to join those who are "ISJ'ot lost, but gone before." 

Those who have visited the scenes of devastation at New 
Richmond could estimate, perhaps, the 'damage done, but the 
mental anguish crowded into a few minutes that dark after- 
noon of June 12, 1899, must be beyond all imagination to 
estimate. Neither can one who Avas not here imagine the 
horrors of the scene — the awful darkness; then the terrible 
death-dealing wind sweeping a path before it and leaving be- 
hind it mutilated bodies; widows, who a moment before were 
happy wives ; widowers, who had been happy husbands ; 
fathers and mothers, now childless ; little ones made orphans. 
And when one looks ino the cellars of the houses in New 
Richmond that had been homes, and sees but the debris of 
the storm, it is almost impossible to conceive how any es- 
caped, so great was the havoc wrought. And the suffering 
in these cellars will never be known by others than the suf- 
ferers, and those of them who still survive will remember it 
as a dream, an awful nightmare, in which the hand of death 
reached for them, but hesitated, and left them to the anguish 
of the after moments, this, in itself, almost as horrible as any 
death could be. 

The scene of horror lasted all that fated Monday night, all 
of Tuesday and Tuesday night, and all day Wednesday. Will- 
ing hands made hasty and eager search for the dead, and found 
them — found them so often that after a time there was no 
longer horror in it. ]\rore than a hundred graves have been 
made since last Sundav. 



52 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Awful as was tlie storm of itself, the night which followed 
was, if anything, worse. On all sides could be seen bodies 
of those who had perished or the mangled, torn bodies of those 
who escaped sudden death to die a thousand deaths before 
crossing the dark river, and in the darkness could be heard 
the shrieks of those who escaped death by the storm to meet 
it in more fearful form in the flauK^s. i'igures of men, bloody 
and torn, but still possessed of abnoriual strength, were every- 
where, guided by the light of the flames or by the shrieks, 
rescuing the wounded. And, as an everlasting shame on the 
human race, there were others who calmly left the dead and 
dying to search for booty. 

In Richmond, after the lapse of a few days, the finding of 
an arm, or a basket of charred human bones, would have been 
calmly regarded. Men grow accustomed to such horrors. 

A strange Sunday was that which followed the devastation 
of the awful cyclone. It was a day of work, not of rest, at 
least, for the living. The laborers continued to wield pick 
and shovel, hammer and saw. But there were church bells as 
well, ringing. The Catholic Church was still standing, and a 
Norwegian Church, without marks of the storm. The Cath- 
olic Church was a morgue, to be sure, but not on Sunday. 
It was a sanctuary for the living, and at 8 a. m. the bell 
called the people to mass. Then at 10:30 a. m. the high 
mass was celebrated. Rev. Dr. Degnan had a busy week 
among the dying and dead, administering consolation and 
hope. And he was, it is hoped, most successful in removing 
burdens of sorrow and doubt from the afflicted living. 

A MOST NOTABLE SERMON BY REV. DR. DEGNAN, OF NEW 
RICHMOND— COURAGE, PATIENCE, RESIGNATION THE LES- 
SON TO LEARN. 

By wire from New Richmond, Wis., June 19: One of the 
sensations of the first Sunday in ruined New Richmond was 
the unexpected turn in the morning service at the Catholic 
Church. Dr. Degnan had intended to hold a simple mass 
with a short sermon, in which no allusion would be made to 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 53 

the calamity of jMonday evening. But when he arose before 
the audience he changed his purpose and delivered an address 
which will long be remembered in connection with the history 
of the great storm. 

To begin with, Dr. Degnan had buried fifty-nine of his 
parishioners, among them three of his altar boys. He had 
visited hundreds of the injured and had worked all the week 
almost without rest. In spite of the terrible scenes he had 
witnessed, he thought himself calm enough to preach a simple 
sermon from the Gospel of the day. But before him he saw 
his church packed with his own members and many strangers. 
Here and there, a sorrowing mother would be wiping away 
the tears she could not repress, and in scores of faces could 
be seen the grief which no dissembling could conceal. 

This settled it with Dr. Degnan. He saw his duty was to 
comfort those sorrowing people, not by sympathizing with 
them, but by cheering them up, by inspiring them with new 
hope and courage. Speaking entirely extempore, and with 
a spontaneity which no stenographer could follow, with an 
enthusiasm which was electrical in its influence on his hearers, 
the priest did more in his short address than he could have 
accomplished in months of pastoral visitation. Looking down 
into the sad faces, he began : 

DR. DEGNAN'S DISCOURSE. 

"Many happy faces are found wanting in this once pros- 
perous congregation, and many a sad countenance is left be- 
hind to mourn the loss of our departed loved ones. The fear- 
ful storm that arose in its might and power on last Monday 
night has leveled to the ground our once beautiful and pros- 
perous little city. Many a home is made desolate and sad, 
many a chair is vacant, but this sadness and affliction which 
has come upon us must not bury us in desolation. While 
God in His Providence has seen fit to send us this terrible 
catastrophe, yet his mercy and goodness have supplied us 
with many noble, generous and philanthropic friends. 



54 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

"The philanthropy of Minneapolis, St. Paul, Stillwater, St. 
Cloud and all the towns of our own state will now serve as 
lamps for our feet and torches for our path to lead us on to a 
bright and prosperous future. We should thank God that we 
live in a land that is characterized by noble deeds and all that 
is grand, enobling and inspiring in human nature. 

"The dark clouds that gathered over this prosperous toAvn 
are not without the bright rays of sunshine. In the sad hour 
of our affliction we ntust not sit by the wayside of sorrow, but 
listen to the encouraging words of noble and charitable and 
loyal friends. 

"The banner of the Red Cross^ which now floats over our 
city, will teach us our duty in these days of darkness and 
misery. And what is our duty ? It is what God has com- 
manded, and it is duty because He has commanded it. He 
now commands us to be true to ourselves, to our fellows and 
to Him. Duty, then, is God's will working in our lives. 
Duty is the law of life, the spring of action, the condition of 
all dignity, the end of man, and the measure of reward. 
Duty makes character, character makes life, and life makes 
the measure of happiness; and the true end of all life is to 
know and love that life that never ends. Duty makes the 
man, shapes the saint, carves out the hero and glorifies 
humanity. 

"That banner of the Red Cross teaches us kindness, 'charity, 
benevolence and gratitude, and inspires us- to follow the in- 
structions of St. Paul, 'Bear ye one another's burdens.' That 
banner of the Red Cross derives all of its efficacy and useful- 
ness from the lessons taught us by the blood-stained cross of 
the crucified Savior. When he hung suspended between 
heaven and earth and surrounded b-\' all the terrors and ae'onies 
of death, He set us an heroic example of calmness, benevo- 
lence, resignation and charity; and as He set us the example, 
He wishes us to imitate Him in all the calamities of our life. 

"If we keep our eyes on the banner of the Red Cross and 
remember the Cross of Calvary, we cannot be remiss in our 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 55 

duty in this sad hour of atflictioii. Let ns then go forth with 
glad and joyful hearts; let the spirit of the crucified Savior 
and His example in His trying ordeal inspire our hearts with 
nohle thoughts and noble deeds. Kind words, kind thoughts 
and kind deeds must characterize us all in bearing one an- 
other's burdens. 

"In the temple of your minds let none but kind thoughts 
dwell. Be kind in speech to all who are afflicted. Kind 
words are the music of God's world. They are the solace of 
the broken-hearted and the sunshine of existence. Do kindly 
deeds. Kindness is the pouring out of self on others ; it is a 
little thing, but little things make up life. Do not repine 
over our j)resent misfortune, but rise, like true heroes and 
heroines, superior to the distressing surroundings, and lift your 
heads to the heavens of God. The home of happiness must now 
be in each one's heart and not in the thoughts of the sad 
catastrophe. 

"Be not idle or let down to useless dreaming; labor, cour- 
age and duty are now our only source of joy. Put on, then, 
the armor of courage and manliness. Let all that is noble 
in human nature characterize us in our dealings with our 
fellow men and in all our dealings with the poverty stricken. 
Let us do all in our power to build up the homes of the afflicted, 
and to place on a firm and solid basis our once beautiful city. 
Our generous friends will prove loyal and true to us, and we 
must prove worthy and grateful to them for their generosity 
and kindness. The faces that are missing in the congregation 
and in this sorrowful city will, in God's mercy, be replaced. 
Under the benign influence of an all-merciful Providence, gen- 
erous hands will rebuild all that we have lost. The roughest 
storm a calm must soon allay. 

"In all our work let all that is noble in human nature char- 
acterize us. Let us write in letters of gold everlasting grati- 
tude to the cities of St. Paul, Minneapolis, Stillwater, St. 
Cloud and all the towns of our state. May all that have 
helped us in our affliction never taste of the cup of sorrow of 



56 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Avhicli ^ve have been obliged to drink, but may the fullest meas- 
ure of peace, happiness and prosperity follow them in all their 
paths of life. 

"While the catastrophe may seem overwhelming in its 
■devastation, yet remember out of every twenty of our citizens 
nineteen were preserved, and scarcely one passed through the 
portals of death without the comfort and consolation of re- 
ligion. Give not away to sorrow, then, but let willing minds, 
■with willing hands and willing hearts, start out and rebuild 
the homes made desolate and the poverty stricken city. 

"God is with us and noble friends are at our back. This 
•congregation will rise up in the near future to its former 
prosperous condition, and our little city is destined to rise 
•out of the ashes with a brighter and better garb than it ever 
wore in the past." 

The ringing and courageous words of the beloved priest had 
the desired effect. The weeping eyes were dried, and the 
■sorrowing faces brightened. Despair gave way to hope, sor- 
row^ to joy, and the inspiration of the hour will do wonders in 
helping the congregation of the church of the "Immaculate 
Oonception" to face the future. 

A MEMORIAL SERVICE— JUNE 20, 1899. 

Tuesday morning, at 9:30 a. m., Rev. Dr. Degnan held 
memorial services for the members of his parish who perished 
in the storm. There was mass in the church, a sermon and 
procession to the cemetery, where the burial services were 
read. 

All I^ew Richmond were interested in the fate of Thomas 
McNally. He was one of the popular young men of the town, 
a clerk in Thompson's clothing store, and known by everybody 
who traded in !N"ew Richmond. He was terribly injured in 
the storm, but calmly worked for an hour or more rescuing 
dead and dying. But he had to give up finally, and when 
the doctors, ten or twelve of them, examined him, the verdict 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 57 

was unanimous that he had to die. But he refused to die at 
once, and since then has been defying death with a nonchal- 
ance which is never failing. 

''How are you feeling, Tom?" asked Father Degnan when 
he visited him on the 18th of June. 

"Oh, pretty well," he replied. "I am comfortable and I 
have an angel of a nurse." 

"Tom, I hope you haven't been making love to her," ad- 
monished the priest, with a twinkle in his eye. 

"Well, I made a few passes at her," Tom admitted, and 
added, by way of explanation, "She's stuck on my looks." 

As his nose is spread over most of his face and his head is 
otherwise demoralized, it can be surmised that he was intent 
on having his little joke. The sentiment was general that 
death should be content with his harvest of the past week and 
spare Tom McNally. 

The light fingered folks came with the crowd on the 18th, 
on the Wisconsin Central. The Omaha refused to bring the 
crowds to the still suffering city. The pickpockets were on 
hand, but the efficient detectives, Howard and Lawrence of 
Minneapolis, Chub Elliott of Eau Claire and a plain clothes 
man from Milwaukee, rendered their intentions ineffectual. 

Menomonie is represented here with fifty men and teams 
ready to go to work this morning (June 19th, 1899), and 
helpers from other towns came. Hudson supplied hundreds 
of valuable and tireless men and women helpers. 

E. E. Gatchel, a druggist, put his store at the service of 
New Eichmond. He has been drawn upon for unlimited 
drugs and surgical supplies. The Eau Claire men went home 
after a week of faithful and intelligent work. Others re- 
placed them. Governor Scofield arrived on the 20th. Illness 
kept him away, but he had a faithful representative in Major 
Doyon. 

The different views taken by the various pastors who occu- 
pied pulpits on the 18th (Sunday) of the causes for the pres- 
ence of a cyclone in !N^ew Richmond : 



58 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Ill nine i)iil[»its here ( M iiiiic;i])olis) yesterday the cyclone was 

the subject of the sernioii. The general sentiment exjDressed 

was that it was a mysterious dispensation of Providence, but 

the Eev. Joseph ^[oran, of the Episcopal Church, said it was 

the devilish Avork of an unkncnvn power and not the act of 

God. 

ATTEMPT AT ROBBERY. 

A bold attempt to rob the vault of the Manufacturers' Bank 
was made during the night. William Thompson, the teller of 
the bank, gave the following account of the affair : Shortly 
after midnight the young man whom he had hired to watch the 
vault during the night heard a man slide down beside the 
vault. He waited a minute and saw him set down a small 
satchel, from which he began to take burglar's tools. He 
turned a dark lantern on the door of the vault and began his 
nefarious work at once. The watchboy, instead of running 
to call the guard, commanded the man to halt and started for 
him with only a clul) in his hand. He just succeeded in 
reaching the robber and dealing him one blow over the head 
when the fellow picked up his kit of tools and took to his 
heels. The boy followed him, but did not succeed in over- 
taking him before he got outside the lines. A complete de- 
scription of the burglar was given the police here, and the 
Twin City detectives were working on the case. They be- 
lieved they were on the track of the fellow, and had hopes of 
capturing him before night. It was thought that he was one 
of the men working on the ruins during the day, and changed 
his clothes at night for the daring attempt to reach the money 
in the vault. 

With the exception of the above desperate attempt on the 
bank, the city has been comparatively free from crime, except 
petty larceny and the pilfering of doiiK>Hs]iod bnihUng-^ out- 
side the lines of the militia. 

Considerable complaint was heard about the action of people 
su]-»posed to have been connected with the circus on the night 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 59 

of the storm. The circus drove their wagons out of town early 
next morning, and it is reported that they contained hundreds 
of dollars' worth of property taken from the stores immedi- 
ately after the storm. Mr. Ben Powell tells how an attempt 
was made to rob him by an unknown man. Mr. Powell was 
pinned doAvn in the ruins of the Powell & Lounsbury fancy 
goods store. A friend was trying to dig him out, but went 
away to get more aid. A stranger volunteered to take his 
place, but as soon as the friend left he went through Mr. 
Powell's pockets. He took out a tobacco pouch from his 
trousers, and finding it was not a purse, replaced it. Mr. 
Powell had a large roll of money in a long leather book in his 
inside coat pocket. With one arm which was free he managed 
to keep the fellow from getting this before help arrived. 

The death of Willie Hughes, a bright lad of some 12 yearg, 
eldest son of Mr. William Hughes, a most learned and esteemed 
lawyer of this city, was much lamented. The boy came for 
his father, bringing an umbrella, as a light rain was falling. 
He reached his father's office, and both hurriedly began to 
descend the stairs, hand in hand, when the wind hurled the 
boy from his father's side. That was the last of the amiable 
lad seen alive. Four days later, a few charred bones were 
found and identified by a peculiar garter buckle which he 
wore at the time. 

Mrs. Sarah Greaton, a lady 92 years of age, was 
found dead after the cyclone had passed. She was calmly 
lying on the bed, and must have died from the shock. She had 
been a very beautiful and interesting character. 

The city of l^ew Richmond had an excellent mandolin 
orchestra of six pieces, and fortunately all escaped alive. 
After the cyclone, they were open for engagements. The 
business manager is Mr. B. Sherman, a dentist here. The 
other members of the orchestra are Misses Peters, Mable Todd, 
James Reid, bookkeeper of ]^s^orthern Grain Company, and C. 
PI. Todd, jeweler. All the gentlemen of the party had very 



60 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

narrow escapes, and lost all their business property, and some 
their homes. 

There are many stories of miracnlons escapes. Miss Maud 
Tatro was rescued just a moment before the flames reached 
her. She was caught in the debris of the Hicks & Co. store, 
where Mr. Hicks lost his life. Edward Keith, traveling agent 
of Dore & Redpath, St. Paul, dug his way out from the cellar. 
He was near Miss Tatro and went to work to save her. He 
was injured himself so that it was impossible to work fast, 
but succeeded in forcing out her body, all except the right 
foot. He called to three men who were passing, and they all 
went to work. The building was over half burned. Maud 
was perfectly conscious, and a moment more her clothing would 
have been afire. It was decided to pull her out, even if the 
foot was jerked off. Charles Lambdin, George Ball and Joe 
Blair had come to Mr. Keith's assistance. They gathered the 
young lady in their arms and with a terrible jerk brought her 
out. All the ligaments of her foot were torn loose. Imt she 
was otherwise uninjured. 

SOUVENIR FIENDS. 

HUNDREDS WERE IN SEARCH OP MEMENTOES OF THE NEW 
RICHMOND DISASTER. 

The souvenir fiends, of whom there were hundreds, took every- 
thing within reach, from silver spoons to infants' shoes, and it 
required every effort to preserve property where all lines were 
obliterated. Thirty extra deputies from members of the Hud- 
son city guard left by special train for New Richmond on the 
evening of the 15th. General Boardman of Hudson assumed 
charge of the militia. Sheriff Greene of the corps of deputy 
sheriffs.- 

A number of crooks were driven off. The third carload of 
supplies from Hudson was sent to New Richmond the 15th. 
Supplies kept pouring in. The same day a $2,000 check was 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 01 

sent from Minneapolis. It gladdened the people of the 
stricken city. It required several thousands to remove the 
debris in search for the dead. Three hundred men were en- 
gaged in this duty all day the 15th. Dead animals were being 
buried and sanitary measures enforced by the different offi- 
cials. Report claims that the clearing away of the debris 
alone cost $9,716.69. A petition had been circulated through 
the county, as provided by law, calling for a meeting of the 
St. Croix county board to help the sufferers. Money was 
much needed at this time. It soon came. St. Paul and Min- 
neapolis, besides the smaller cities of Wisconsin, and also of 
Minnesota, soon came to the rescue. Consult the report at 
the end of this work. 

NEW RICHMOND'S THANKS. 

The citizens' committee of Xew Richmond wired the fol- 
lowing to the Associated Press: 

"Our committee rejoices in generous contributions : ^lin- 
neapolis citizens, $2,000 ; J. H. Allen & Co. of St. Paul, $5 ; 
Viroque, Wis., $100; Madison, Wis., $200; St. Louis, Mo., 
one contributor, $72 ; St. Cloud, Minn., $500 ; J. J. McCardy, 
St. Paul, $200 ; Mannheimer Brothers, St. Paul, $200 ; Omaha 
Railway Company, $1,000 and free transportation of supplies; 
many other contributions which it is impossible for us with 
our present organization to acknowledge in detail. We wire 
these thanks to the Associated Press and wish to say that it 
will be impossible for us to promptly thank the various donors 
in the future from Xew Richmond, but that B. J. Price, the 
member of the committee at Hudson, Wis., will acknowledge 
all contributions from there." 

The 14th of June, 1899, was called, in a special manner, 
"ITew Richmond's Day of Mourning." Thirty-two victims 
were buried. Sad-faced women, children and men, down whose 
furrowed cheeks tears were running, followed their dead from 
the Catholic Church to the cemetery in the rear. All the 



62 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

afternoon the mournful procession kept up. Sometimes there 
were a dozen coffins at a time, one close behind the other. 
Hardly time was left for a few tears before the coarse clods 
covered the coffins of the loved ones from view. There is still 
a large number of unburied dead. Coffins failed to arrive. 
To-morrow the burials will continue. 

There was one little white coffin. In it lav a child of 
about two years, and a baby of a few months, each with marble 
faces, and here and there a bruise on their little heads. Thej 
were placed against the altar of the church, and photographed, 
and then laid to rest. 

A solitary, worn old man, with the tears streaming down 
his cheeks, followed the coffin of Walter Farrell to its grave 
and knelt down in the deep grass in agony as the coffin disap- 
peared from view. In another part of the graveyard a mother 
and lier daughters knelt by the coffin of the husband and father 
so suddenly dashed from their side, and they refused to be 
comforted. Thus it was. 

Over at the Congregational ( 'hnrch, the steeple was smashed 
almost to kindling wood, and it^; boll, whicli liad ining so many 
times, lay buried in the ruins. The windows were blown out, 
and a portion of the roof gone. This church was also turned 
into a morgue. In the iutcricr, piled on n table, were loaves 
of bread close beside coffins. Cushions lay on the floor with 
pieces of broken boards and dozens of coffins. The adjoining 
room was fitted with ini]^rovised slabs supported on the up- 
turned bottoms of chair-i, and on these slabs lay the bodies of 
people sacrificed to ^roiiday's stoi-ni. 

CLEAR LAKE. 

Xear Clear Lake tlioro were marvellous esca]')es. The same 
storm that destroyed Xew Tviclnnond swept through Clear 
Lake, destroying the homo of ^Tr. Sam Olson, killing him 
instantly, fatally injuring his wife and his son Avas badly 
hurt. Adjoining his place was tho home of Torgor Torgen- 
son. This also was comi)lotoly <lomi>lishe<l. but tho family, 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 63 

who had taken refuge in the cellar, escaped injury. JSText was 
the home of J. C. Walsworth. He and his family escaped 
death in a marvelous manner. The family had taken refuge in 
the cellar, and was scarcely in when the house was lifted off 
and destroyed. Mr. Walsworth, who is the general agent for 
a farm machinery company, had a number of mowers and 
binders and rakes on the premises, and a number of these were 
blown into the cellar, completely filling it; but every member 
of the family of seven escaped with scarcely any injury. 

Next was the home of William Lewis. The house, with 
its barn, was destroyed. A large town hall next met the same 
fate. iSTorth of this about a mile and a half were the homes 
of John and Reuben Hale. Both, together with the barns 
and other farm buildings, were leveled to the ground, and a 
Mr. Rozenquest seriously injured. Mr. Fred Kennetz's home 
was the next. Everything he o^vned was demolished, and Mr. 
Kennetz killed. 

The home of Mr. P. L. Taylor, one mile north of town, was 
also bloAvn down, and Mr. Taylor very badly injured. Di- 
rectly west of the village, the home of Hans J. Johnson met 
the same fate. The family lost everything. The school- 
house, two miles north of town, was blo^\^l to atoms, and the 
home of Mr. Grant, forty rods in the rear, destroyed. 

East of the toAvn the storm was also terrific. One family, 
whose name has not been learned, had the greater part of the 
house lifted over their heads, but the family of six were unin- 
jured. The father was blo"s\Ti twenty rods, and when he recov- 
ered his feet was surprised to find a son deposited alongside of 
him. Both went towards the" house to meet the mother with 
three children, looking for a refuge. The large barn of John 
E. Glover at WilloAwille was destroyed. Many horses and 
cattle were killed. 

At least fifteen families are homeless and some are abso- 
lutely destitute. Barns and windmills are blown down on 
nearly every farm in this vicinity. Many people are in need 
of immediate assistance, and a movement in that direction was 



64 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

begun. A telegram was sent to Gov. Scofield, calling his at- 
tention to the state of affairs, June 15th. 

The crew working in the refuse of Patton k Carey's drug 
store, in the east side of the basement reached a large door 
which had fallen fiat on top of John Wells, killing him imme- 
diately, but protecting the body from mutilation, except by 
the weight of wall piled on top of the door, which crushed the 
life out of the promising lad. John was the 17-year-old son 
of a farmer, Mr. Charles Wells, Erin Prairie. 

Two stores away, about fifteen minutes later, the crushed 
body of Jacob Schumacher of Stillwater, was found. He had 
worked on the farm of John Harrington, eight miles south 
of New Richmond. Mr. Schumacher was 35 years of age, and 
sought refuge in Cullen & Greeley's from the storm, where he 
met his death. He was identified by his clothing. His face 
was mashed so as to be unrecognizable. Friends telegraphed his 
brother, Mr. M. Schumacher of Stillwater, but the remains 
being too badly decayed for shipment, were buried here. 

APPEAL FOR A CHURCH— THE BAPTIST PASTOR WITHOUT A 
HOME OR PLACE OF WORSHIP. 

jSTew Richmond, Wis., June 16. 

The following letter tells its own tale : 

Editor St. Paul Dispatch: Your readers may care to hear 
from the pastor of the Baptists in this sorrow-stricken place. 
The cyclone has blown away our liouse of prayer and left us 
with nothing but our block of ground and $150 of debt. We 
have eighty-five members in the church and as many members 
of our Sunday school. The city is in ruins. About a hun- 
dred persons are in their graves. Tlie total property loss is 
thought to be not less than $2,000,000. There are more than 
4,000. people in this town and district. We have the only Bap- 
tist Church within eighteen miles. If we could have $1,500 
we could build a suitable house of worship, and do a noble work 
for God and for the salvation of men, and in doing it extend 
prinr-iplos Ba])tistfi have been willing to live for, and for which 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 65 

many have been ready to die. Who will help us now in our dis- 
tress ? I, with my wife and child, a girl nine years old, were in 
our house when it was blown away. It took all we had in the 
world except the light clothes we wore, so we were left penniless, 
but wc trust in God, who will save us out of onr distress and 
make us glad according to the years wherein He has afflicted us, 
and in which we have seen evil. Till then we pray in faith and 
work in hope. Any help for church building may be sent to J. 
D. McLeod, pastor, or George Johnson or William Norton, 
deacons. 

EEV. WILLIAM WILKINSOI^. 

Courtesy St. Paul Dispatch. 
June 16th. 

DEALING OUT JUSTICE. 

Impromptu Court Established at New Richmond. 

One of the most curious sights in this !N'ew Richmond is the 
court of justice established between two of the lunch tents at 
headquarters. Early this morning there were twenty men in 
the guard house who had been rounded up during the night and 
about daylight. Judges Hough and ^McClure, two aged jus- 
tices of the peace of Wew Richmond, were sent for, .and a big 
dry goods box set up on end for the impromptu bar of justice. 
One by one the accused were brought before this curious tri- 
bunal. Justice Hough presided. A big legal-looking ledger 
opened out before him, and his aged form and gray beard mak- 
ing him a conspicuous figure amidst all the bustle and hurry 
at headquarters. At his side, on another cracker box, sat Jus- 
tice ]\re01ure, who acted as clerk. Half a dozen of the culprits 
before the court were soon discharged, nothing having been 
found against them worse than refusiug to stop when ordered 
by the guards, or attempting to get through the lines. Where 
there was any evidence of pilfering against the accused he was 
given a liberal sentence. 

"One of the accused claimed he came to buy up damaged 
goods. He was accused of trying to roll up and carry off some 



66 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

copper wire fallen from the poles of the local electric light 
company. He was sentenced to pay a fine of $20 or spend forty 
days in the county jail at Hudson. He is still in custody. An- 
other of the accused claimed he was only helping the former 
and Avas given thirty minutes to leave town. Another man 
was given thirty days in jail for petit larceny; a lady's cape 
was found on his person ; another was discharged, and the rest 
were charged with vagrancy and each given thirty minutes to 
get out of town on penalty of thirty days in jail." 

Such was the condition of ISJ^ew Richmond four days after 
the terrible calamity. — Author. 

"A CYCLONE STORY VERIFIED BY AN AFFIDAVIT." 

'New Richmond, Wis., June IG. 

Probably the most astounding story regarding freaks of the 
New Richmond cyclone is that related by Wm. McShane, given 
below : 

"New Richmond, Wis., June 16, 1899. 

"About the first of April, when I took the storm windows off 
my house, I put seven of them in an upright piano box, placed 
at the end of a chicken coop at the south side of the yard. I 
then securely nailed on the front of the box with ten-penny 
nails so that there was no opening to the box. I passed the 
box five or six times a day, so that I am confident it was there 
in the same condition Monday night, June 12, before the cyclone 
struck. Mrs. McShane escaped the storm in a neighbor's cel- 
lar. When she came back to the house immediately after, she 
noticed the windows lying on the ground. 1 found the seven 
windows with their double glass, turned around endwise and 
stacked up evenly on top of each other. Not a pane of glass 
was cracked, and the piano box had been torn entirely off ; pieces 
of the box I found scattered about the yard some distance 
away. The chicken-coop was uninjured. (Signed.) 

"W. McSHANE." 

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this IGtli dav of June, 
1899. 

"J. B. MINER, Notary Rnblic, Ramsey County. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 67 

Courtesy St. Paul Dispatch. 

"New Richmond, Wis., June 16. 

"The city is today rising from its ruins. A repair depot 
has been established at headquarters in a separate tent. It is 
in charge of a committee headed by A. W, Bosworth. Lumber 
and material for temporary buildings are being supplied to the 
merchants here, and already a half dozen stores have the walls 
up. The bank of 'New Richmond was the first to be rebuilt. 
Ward Williams has secured lumber to begin the new frame 
store for dry goods on his old site. Martin Lynch started a 
building for machinery. Wm. Fitzgerald, grocer, and Fred Bell, 
butcher, have temporary shops underway. Charles McCarthy 
has another grocery building started. There are dozens of 
others who are being supplied with lumber. Many have opened 
their shops in barns around the outskirts of demolished ruins, 
and others in their houses, where they arc fortunate enough 
not to have lost both house and store. 

"Wholesale merchants in the Twin Cities, Chicago and Mil- 
waukee are sending word that goods ordered will be supplied 
at once on their credit. The generosity of jobbers saved the 
city. Xew Richmond is in the heart of one of the finest agricul- 
tural districts in Wisconsin, and has a large potentiol wealth in 
the soil. Although most of the merchants here were bankrupt, 
they receive unlimited credit and will be able to re-establish 
themselves in most cases. Neiv merchants luill not he welcomed 
here hy the jobbers, every advantage given the destitute who 
have lived here." 

June 16. The two largest relief trains that have yet come to 
the city arrived at daylight. One from Hudson with 350 men 
in cliarge of John Munsey, of the Omalia shops; 250 employes 
in the shops are sent by the company with this party. The 
other 100 are collected from the sawmill of Major G. P. De 
Long, who is also here with the party. The party is organized 
in squads and is now at work on ciic ruins. Tliey were brought 
in on a long train of box cars. 



68 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

The other relief party is from Stillwater, and contains sixty 
men in charge of W. T. Perlee and John Parker, foreman. The 
party is equipped with a complete lumberman's camping out- 
fit, and has been located south of the ruins. The relief com- 
mittee today telegraphed the mayor of Stillwater for 100 more 
tents to house the laborers here. These organized parties of 
laborers will do much to clear up the ruins in the next few 
days, and attention can then be given to rebuilding in earnest. 

CORPORATIONS WITH SOULS. 

Too much cannot be said in praise of the lofty motives which 
prompted the refusal of the railroad companies to run excursions 
to New Eichmond while the people were still digging for the 
dead and missing. It has been said that "corporations have 
no souls," but here are two corporations that give the lie to that 
time-worn adage : The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Oma- 
ha and the Wisconsin Central railroads. With the first news of 
the disaster, General Manager Scott, of the Omaha road, set in- 
stantly to work getting up and fitting out a relief train. He 
did not wait to learn what was wanted, but took everything 
he could get hold of and before the sun rose on the scene of the 
disaster he was there with his relief. Following this was a 
cash contribution of $1,000 by the road, and every facility that 
it could place at the disposal of the stricken town, including 
laborers to assist in the search for the dead. 

When the news of the disaster had been thoroughly spread, 
letters began to pile into the offices of the two roads entering 
New Richmond, making iiiquirios about excursion trains. Here 
was an opportunity for the companies to make \\\) what they 
had lost by the cyclone. But the companies have steadfastly 
refused to comply with these thousands of requests, and will 
run no excursions, at least until the horrors have been somewhat 
abated. By that time public interest will have been largely 
suspended and the "show" will not draw. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 69 

It is indeed refreshing to note the existence of such a senti- 
ment in hearts whicli arc supposed to be ruled only by cold 
commercialism. The people of New Kichmond, and, indeed 
those of the whole country, will note it as a radical departure, 
and one which is of distinct credit to the companies making it." 

These acts of unequaled generosity on the part of the rail- 
road corporations should long remain gratefully remembered 
in the niinds and hearts of New Richmond people. — Author. 

GOVERNOR SCOFIELD'S THANKS. 

Gov. Lind this afternoon received the following telegram 
from Gov. Edward Scofield of Wisconsin: 

"I desire through you to thank the people of St. Paul and 
Minneapolis, Stillwater and other cities of your state, for the 
assistance you have rendered to the suffering people of New 
Richmond. The reports that have been made to me by my 
personal representative of the work of Minnesota people, assures 
me that your citizens have been most prompt, efficient and 
generous in their efforts to succor the stricken city. Wiscon- 
sin appreciates the noble efforts of her sister state," 

ETERNITY FULL OF SURPRISES. 

"All that you and I are responsible for is doing our duty. 
Our's is the seeding, and God alone beholds the end of what is 
sown. How do we know how much good we accomplish when 
we do any good thing or utter any truth in love? Eternity 
will be full of surprises to us. Wait and see." — T. L. C. 

JUNE 20— THOMAS McNALLY'S CONDITION. 

Thomas McNally promises to surprise the physicians by re- 
covering. When he was examined by Dr. Epley shortly after 
the cyclone he was pronounced as good as dead. Besides hav- 
ing a piece of board run into his head at the bridge of the 
nose, a number of his ribs were broken and crushed in to the 
extent that they lacerated his lungs. After examining him, 



70 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Dr. Epley ordered him propped \ip in bed, stating that he wonld 
likely live three or fonr hours. Bnt the noble-sonled yoirng 
man refused to die per programme, and no^v has every chance 
to i-ecover. He has since been treated by a n\miber of physi- 
cians, who wei-e mnch surprised that he is i-eeovering. 

The young man has been fully conscious at all time? ?iuce 
he was injui-ed, and has insisted that he would recover if he 
could only receive good and skillful medical txeatment. When 
first told that he could not live more than a few horn's., he took 
charge of his private papers, arranged them to suit himself 
and laid back to await the end. He insistei.1 that if it did come, 
it would be caused by the failure of the physicians; that he 
had a chance to live. He admitted that he does not know ex- 
actly how he was injured. He was in front of Williams' store 
when the storm came on. He was picked up and hurled into tiie 
air, being caught by the over-hanging a^vning. He held to 
the iix>n rod a moment, and was theji hurled high into tlie air. 
When he came down the large splinter was buried in his head. 
This he pulled out and worked with the rescuers for some min- 
utes. WTiile crossing the street the second hard wind came, and 
he was struck full in the breast by a large plank. This dis- 
abled him. Xow he is quite recovered. 

CROWDS AT THE SCENE. 

"Reporters can never tell the story, nor can cameras com- 
pletely picture the scene.'- was the remark on a thousand tongues 
yesterday. 

People may have imagined that ncAvspapers esag^rated the 
horror of the devastation in Xew Richmond : that the focus 
and perspective obtained by clever artists had magnified the 
ruins. All who have visited and witnessed the scene in the de- 
stroyed town are of one opinion — "exaggeration is impossible." 

"The passenger train on the Wisconsin Central pulled out of 
the Union depot, with nearly 400 people on K>ard who held 
tickets to the unfortunate Wisconsin town. Six coaches were 
filled. The platforms under the great sheds were found to 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 71 

be a living mass of anxious hurrying people, struggling to get 
on what they believed to be the only train that would carry 
them to the scene of devastation. A few, only, could crowd their 
way into the coaches. The annuoncement that another train 
was waiting in the yards to carry everyone to the desired des- 
tination, was greeted with loud cheers. 

"The section of the regular train carried twelve coaches, and 
every one was filled. It was conservatively estimated that 1,000 
people went from the Twin Cities to New Richmond. As the 
train neared the scene of destruction, passengers began to 
gaze with deepest interest from the car windows. Only one 
house on the road showed that a wind storm had prevailed. 
It was about three miles from the city and had been only 
slightly damaged. As the train reached the outskirts of the 
town the faces at the windows assumed an expression of sur- 
prise. There was visible hardly a sign of the destruction 
which every one had expected to see. The steeple of the Cath- 
olic Church towered above the little forest trees. Fine resi- 
dences were standing in small groves of oaks and elms. Barns 
and other buildings were covered with roofs that had not lost 
a shingle. It seemed that the stories which have thrilled and 
shocked the civilized world during the past few days were 
wild fancies of a disordered brain. Slowly the engine pulled 
the train through the outskirts of the city. It had almost 
reached the depot. Then suddenly it all burst on the view of 
the anxious passengers. They had entered the path of the tor- 
nado. The ruins were before them. The ruins from which 
the dead and mangled bodies had been removed, from which 
scores of bruised and bleeding people had miraculously escaped. 
The horror of it was almost paralyzing, even to the people 
who had expected to witness an unparalleled scene of desola- 
tion. As the passengers disembarked, they saw not alone the 
ruins of homes and business blocks, the bands of crape around 
weather-beaten, dusty heads ; the swollen eyes of tearful women ; 
the quivering lips of strong men, and the sad wondering faces 
of children, — all these told of shattered hopes, — of broken 
hearts, — of desolate hearthstones — of new-made graves!" 



72 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

It was not a crowd of vandals or of curious sight-seers that 
went out from the Twin Cities, that day. Among the thousand 
people there were many who had relations or friends in Xew 
Richmond. There were others who went to otfer aid to the 
unfortunates. There were also those who went only to view 
the ruins, but in their hearts there was sympathy and commis- 
eration. It was a crowd remarkable for its quiet and orderly 
demeanor. Everyone moved about as if solicitous for the feel- 
ings of the homeless and bereaved, as if anxious to find an op- 
portunity of lending some slight aid to the needy, and to avoid 
causing the slightest annoyance or trouble to those whose bur- 
dens were so heavy. 

The main part of the city was enclosed by rope fences, and 
guarded by soldiers. Only those who had a definite purpose in 
visiting this portion of the ruins were permitted inside the 
lines. Passes were issued to all whose friends or relations had 
suffered death or misfortune in the catastrophe, and to those 
who had business within the proscribed territory. The thor- 
ough organization of the local relief committees, and the cour- 
teous way in which they listened to requests and answered ques- 
tions created a deep impression on the visitors. 

INJURED AT ST. PAUL— TWO TRAINLOADS ARE BROUGHT FROM 
NEW RICHMOND. 

Sad scenes as the unfortunates leave the cars. 

One man dies while being carried on a stretcher. 

Tlie trains bearing the persons injured by the Xew Rich- 
mond cyclone arrived. A deputation of physicians, composed 
of Doctors J. H. Brimhall, A. B. Anker, Burnside, Fulton, 
Coon, W. Davis, C. L. Greene, J. O. Cavanaugh and Dr. 
Charles Haas, the clever young physician from Dayton's Bluff, 
St. Paul, were at the station to meet them. 

Preparations had been made to carry the wounded imme- 
diately to the hospitals, and ambulances from St. Joseph's, St. 
Luke's, the city and county hospitals and the Ducas street, 
Margaret street. Rondo street and Central station patrol wagons 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 73 

were waiting. The train was in charge of Dr. Bacon, chief of 
staff of the special train which left Monday evening (June 12, 
1899). Doctors Ball, Dunning and Kelly, assisted by Misses 
Kelly, Gallagher, Loftus, Christensen and Keogh — (nurses 
from the hospitals.) The wounded were at once transferred to 
stretchers and carried to the ambulances in which they were 
transferred to the hospitals. Thirty-two of the wounded came 
on the first train, and the sight was pitiful. Every variety of 
injury seemed to have befallen those in the doctors' charge, and 
blood-stained bandages and gaping wounds testified to the serious 
nature of the injuries of many of the patients. Some were un- 
conscious when removed from the train, and the doctors stated 
that there were several who could not live through the day. 

A FATHER'S GRIEF. 

The scenes at the depot were saddening in the extreme. As 
a stretcher was carefully lowered from the train an old man, 
gray-headed and feeble, followed closely through the crowd. 
It was Mr. F. Jennings of 'New Richmond, one of the oldest 
settlers of the city, who attended his only son, who was crushed 
under a fallen wall. The young man lay quite still, his eyes 
closed, and breathing with difficulty. The stretcher was car- 
ried to the end of the platform and lowered on a baggage 
truck M'hich stood near by. A physician who had been assist- 
ing the old man carefully drew the sheet from the young man's 
head and felt his pulse. 'He is dying,' he said in a low tone to 
the father. The old gentleman clasped his son's hand and tried 
to speak, but words failed. Tears stood in his eyes, and on the 
young man's face the pallor of death was visible. The younger 
turned his head and smiled feebly, and almost in a whisper, 
bade his father farewell. A moment later he had passed from 
the land of the living, and the old, man threw his arms over 
the rough bier, and sobbed in the bitterness of his sorrow. 

A second train, bearing the wounded, arrived soon after the 
first. The same preparations were made as on the first train, 
and the wounded were taken to the several hospitals to be 
cared for. 



74 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

HIS FAMILY GONE. 

Among the wounded was Hon. Lawyer S. ]^. Hawkins of 
New Richmond, one of our most esteemed citizens, suffering 
from severe internal injuries and a lacerated dangerous flesh 
wound in his leg. A reporter leaned over his cot as it reached 
the ambulance and asked his name. The man was suffering 
greatly but courteously replied, and with cheerfulness, evidently, 
forced : 

"Hawkins, sir; I am badly hurt, but it don't much matter. 
My wife, my two daughters and my son were all killed in the 
same place. They are all gone; all of them." In the next 
stretcher brought to the ambulance lay a cousin of the wounded 
man. Miss Maria Hawkins, suffering from severe injuries about 
the head and internal injury. (The history of the Hawkins 
family will be in its proper place. ) 

A noticeable feature of the wounds borne by the patients 
is that in almost every instance the faces of the wounded bore 
innumerable small cuts and lacerations, as if they had been 
subjected to a flaying, which was caused by flying splinters dur- 
ing the cyclone. 

A large number of the patients are suffering from broken 
arms and limbs, and a still larscer number from severe cuts and 
bruises about the head occasioned by falling debris. 

Dr. Ohage, commissioner of health, has taken charge of the 
work and yesterday had a large force at work distributing sup- 
plies and working among the destitute. 

FIRE UNDER CONTROL. 

The Are in the ruins of the wrecked buildings was a most 
lamentable feature of the misery that had fallen upon the peo- 
ple of N^ew Richmond. 

The fire engines of St. Paul promptly responded to a call 
for help. Engine company No. 6 was sent, also engine com- 
pany No. 1 1 arrived and did good service. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 75 

A large number of the wounded were cared for in Stillwater 
and Hudson, and no more were sent to St. Paul, as the hos- 
pitals in the latter city were overcrowded. 

STATE WAS SOMEWHAT TARDY. 

On the first relief train to reach New Kichmond was Con- 
gressman John J. Jenkins of Chippewa Falls. It was largely 
through his efforts that the work of rescue progressed as rapidly 
as it did, and his energy it was that secured for the city so 
much in the way of supplies and outside aid. It is a notable 
fact, however, that it was not the aid of the state of Wisconsin 
which first came to the unfortunate city. St. Paul and Min- 
neapolis were among the first to respond with the needed aid. 

ISTo doubt Congressman Jenkins did his very best. He was 
very earnest in his appeals to the governor ; for two strong ap- 
peals he made. Why was the governor of Wisconsin so tardy ? 
Late in the afternoon of the second day he sent his representa- 
tive to act for him in regard to what it was best to be done. 
The latter spent the afternoon looking over the situation ; and 
the poor people continued in their intense suffering. 

Dear St. Paul and Minneapolis, too much praise cannot be 
given your noble people ! May God keep all evil far from 
you. May you neyer experience the calamities that befell New 
Richmond ! 

A GENEROUS OFFER FROM ST. PAUL. 

Mrs. C. A. Severance, when she heard of the suffering among 
the injured at New Richmond, called on Mayor Kiefer and 
offered her residence, 589 Summit Avenue, as a temporary hos- 
pital. Owing to the action of the city hospitals, it was not neces- 
sary to make use of the offer. 

Mrs. C. A. Severance, daughter of the brave and distin- 
guished General Harriman, comes of a noble, hospitable race; 
and it was ill health which obliged her to retire to a sanitarium 
at that time, or she would have gladly accompanied the relief 
committee to New Richmond to render all the assistance in her 
power to alleviate the suffering of our people. 



76 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

KILLED BY CYCLONE JUNE 12, 1899. 

The following is a list of the known dead, killed in the 
cyclone, June 12, 1899 : 

W. W. Bixby City 

Michael Blatz Stillwater 

Miss Cora Butler City 

Bernard Brockbank City 

Essie Brockbank City 

Harold II. Bigelow City 

Karl Brown City 

Charles Berce City 

Walter Brown Eichmond 

Dominic Barrett Richmond 

Lottie Bridge Star Prairie 

Mrs. Cosgrove City 

William Callahan Richmond 

E. J. Carey City 

Mrs, C. Cameron Pewaukee 

Miss Mary Cuff Jewett Mills 

John Casey Richmond 

Nettie Clough Emerald 

Henry Dunbar • City 

Mrs. Henry Dunbar City 

Josie Brockbank City 

Effie Engstrom City 

Roy Engstrom City 

Anthony Early City 

Miss Kate Early Richmond 

Fred Early City 

Patrick Early Richmond 

Michael Early City 

Walter Farrell City 

Colonel C. F. Fowler City 

W. S. Gould City 

Mrs. Sallie Greaton City 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 77 

Mrs. John Gillen City 

Ole Gunderson Eiclimond 

Patrick Golieen Stanton 

Mrs. S. N . Hawkins , . . . City 

Miss Evangeline Hawkins City 

Miss Nellie Hawkins City 

Walter Hawkins City 

Mr. J. B. Hicks City 

Mason Hollenbeck City 

Archie Hollenbeck City 

Willie Hughes City 

Mrs. D. Heffron Richmond 

John Henry Richmond 

M. Harrington Richmond 

Miss Lillie Hennessy Erin 

Mrs. G. Hurd Richmond 

Patrick Henry Cylon 

Hjalmer Johnson City 

Frank Jennings Richmond 

Matilda Johnson Alden 

Patrick Keating Cylon 

Donald Kelly Stanton 

Carl Earson Baldwin 

Anton Legard City 

Ida Legard City 

Miss Vinnie Lambdin City 

Mrs. J. H. W. Lewis City 

Frankie Lewis City 

Mrs. James Link City 

Frederick Michel 

Mrs. John McClure — City 

Miss N"ellie ^McGrath City 

Lillie McGrath City 

Baby McGrath City 

;^^iss Edna McMahon City 

Mr. Thos. P. Martin City 



78 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Miss Mary Monihan Hudson 

Thomas McCabe City 

Timothy I^oonan City 

Mr. Patrick ISTewell Stanton 

Mr. John jSTeitge Deer Park 

Mr. iS^els N'elson Alden 

Henry O'Connell Kichmond 

Mr. John G. Patton City 

Dwight Porter Stanton 

Miss Katie McKinnon City 

Mr. Nicholas Parden City 

John Pryor Richmond 

Alvin Eosebrook City 

Mrs. Alvin Posebrook City 

Miss Cora Rosebrook City 

Miss Laura Ring ; Erin 

George Ring Erin 

John Ryberg City 

Mrs. Thomas Rowe City 

Mrs. James Shady Richmond 

Irene Shady Richmond 

Florence Shady Richmond 

Reynold Shady Richmond 

Mr. George Stack City 

Mrs. Geo. Stack City 

Thomas Stack City 

Jacob Schumacher Stillwater 

Mrs. Ellen Stevens City 

Thomas Stevens Erin 

Charles F. Talmadge Stanton 

James Vail City 

John Wells Richmond 

Stephen Wells Richmond 

Lester Wallen City 

Willard Wells City 

John Wills Erin 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 79 

Patrick Wills Erin 

Miss Gertie Wears Richmond 

Miss Abbie Williams Citj 

Hazel Williams City 

Unknown dead 9 

The remains of 117 were recovered, but it is the firm con- 
viction that many more perished ; for the intense heat prevented 
manv from being exhnmed. The heroic rescners could not do 
impossibilities. The town \\'rs full of strangers to take in the 
circus. Many never returned, and friends would prefer draw- 
ing the curtain of oblivion over the manner of their dreadful 
deaths. 

Xew Richmond still mourns the loss of husbands, sons, 
daughters, wives and sweethearts. The generous public min- 
istered to their physical and financial ills ; but the hand of God 
alone can soothe the anguished feelings. 

Mrs. T. Martin, a young wife and mother, is one of these. 
She heard the awful roar of the cyclone, and with her child 
and lier servant escaped to a spot beneath the stairway in the 
cellar. 

The first great roar was over; their home was swept away, 
and debris of every description had been thrown all around 
them, but they were uninjured, and escaped and started across 
the fields to her father's home, ^Er. T. Phillips, about a half 
mile distant. Then came the second terrible wind, and the 
two women and the child were thro%\ai to the ground ; bruised 
and bleeding, the mother, with her babe in her arms, and the 
servant arose and made their way to their destination, where 
the young wife moaned for her husband, whose mangled re- 
mains were not found until Friday morning. Mr. Martin was 
much esteemed by his acquaintances as a congenial good fellow, 
possessing many engaging qualities, which endeared him to all 
who knew him. 

The Xicollet hotel furnishes an incident of peculiar pathos. 
Miss Katie Mclvinnon, daughter of the landlord, was found 



80 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Avilli lit-r luinds faiscJ ;i-< it" to wiirtl otV a blow. vSliortlv aftor- 
wai\ls luT liltli> sistor IJcrllia was takni out. VUo latt(>r was 
only sliii'litly injurcHl, aiul as she ii'a/od upon the liioloss form 
of lior sister, slio oxclaimod in lier nnseltishness, *'01i. wliy 
conlihri 1 have Iuh'U lakoii and Katie spared I 1 am a little 
girl and slu" was a yonnii' liuly, and sneli a eomfort to papa and 
mamma."" Miss Katie MelviniK^n was (piite a good mnsieian 
for a girl oi" tifteen years. 81ie \\as the j)iipil of Professor Bar- 
ratt. and lu' had her well advaneed in idassieal mnsie. On the 
day of tlu^ storm the tlan^hter of the ]n*ofessor, Lena, a girl 
yeai-s, was ]ilaying W'ith the children of "Mrs. McKinnon, 
when the roar of the cyclone frigliten(Ml tluMii. Lena Barratt 
and Bertha hnrriedlv ran nnder a marhle top table which stood 
in tlu^ ]>arlor, and both children were nninjnretl. 

1 ho]>e to bi' excnsed by my readers if 1 ref(?r once more to the 
Stack family. The bodies of Mr.and "AFrs. George Stack and 
child were found ueiw the Stack residenee by the rescuers. ]\rr. 
Stack had his child clasped tightly in his arms, and the little one 
crouched closely against him. as if in nun'tal temn-. 

MR. GRANT BOARDMANS EXPERIENCE. 

(iraut IJoardnnin, head miller in the Xew Kichmond roller 
mills, was at the mill when the storm struek. A\'hen it passed 
he ruslu'd towards his Ikmuc six l)locks away, which led through 
the ]»rincipal street of the town, lie was eom]ielled to close his 
ears to the cries of anguish on all sides, for his heart was with 
his family. Before he reached houu^ he met his wife, heard 
that all were safe, kissed her. lliankcd (lod. and rushed back 
to the assistance of those who had cried out to him. lie rescued 
Fred Hawkins, the eldest son of the already atlliete<l ^Ir. Haw- 
kins, referred to in a former chaiiter. and was hurrying to 
(4her .scenes of disastei- when he heard a wonuiu's voice calling. 
It was '^^l•s. Vn'Uo E. Aldrich, buried under the ruins of her brick 
building. Mr. B<^ardman pulletl luu* through a hole which 
seeme<l too snuill to admit of tln^ i)assage of a child. She 
manaiicil to tell liiin that l,a\\\cr Ilan'\- Smith was also bui'ied 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 81 

close i)_v. ITo, too, was taken out. There was still another man, 
hut all efforts could not lift the weight which lay upon his leg 
and held him fast. ITo prayed them in God's name to cut off his 
leg', with saw or ax — anythinii', for lightning' had struck and 
igiiitefl some of the comhiistihlc matter in the (h'l)ris, supposed 
to be a gasoline tank in the ruins of a hardware store, and the 
flames spread rapidly. The heat of the tlanies was growing 
more and more intense, and the jtoor fellow pinned doANii felt 
their tiei-y hreath; liut iJoardiiiaii was foi'eed to leave, and 
never did he in liis life pertoi'iii a liardcr hisl,-. 

EXPERIENCE OP" MR. THOMAS HEFFRON. 

Mr. ireHV<»irs e\])erieiice is almost jjast helief ; hut those who 
have seen the awful power of the cyclone and believe in God's 
mercies aud miracles must credit the story. ^Ir. Heffron was 
driving through Main street, holding lightly to his horses' reins, 
Avhen the storm struck; the horse and buggy and ^Ir. Ileffron 
were picked from the street, carried through the air over sev- 
eral dwellings and set down u|)on the street again with liorses 
and man unhurt, and the buggy free from damage. 

MR. WILLIAM HILLIERS EXPERIENCE. 

Some were nnwilliug witnesses of the eyelone's work — among 
them was !Mr. W. Ilillier. lie was hun-yiiig to his home, and 
was in sight of it when the cyclone was upon him. lie threw 
himself down in the school yard, clasped the trunk of a tree 
and lay there holding firmly. ITe saw the air filled with flying 
debi'is. horses, cattle, dogs; fought off a nmaway team with 
his undjrella, was hit witli a fiyin,<>' boai'd, but esca])ed from 
it all with (tnly a slight I)ruise. 

MR. W. F. McNALLY AND MR. M. P. McNALLY'S EXPERIENCE. 

The escape of W. F. McXally and his brother, M. P. Mc- 
Xally, both expert lawyers of the town, borders on the marvel- 
ous. Their oflice was over Patton k Carey's drug Store. Both 
gentlemen were absorbed in their books, not being aware of the 



<i THE XBW R1CKSK>ND CYCLONE. 

vVBoitt^ stv>rtKk iwsklil tW dneutVaitts: rv»&r wj^ruev! litem of dau- 



wasi tv> be t!t^ fate^ to die tot!:\ 
^wr^fe aiQsa<>i$« tu> !;be :>5r^ets Mrith %}» briok 

-r. W. ^' ^' ^: ■ '^ ■ _ :> 
- > f*?v 

a;;< - -. \rae^ j^ were attxk>tt^ w 

... \ ..: .^_.^,, , , ■-■ '• -.. -... I rhe 

i. >lv --ace 

po6*^ ~ «ee«pe. W. F* ^e^albr cv^oM *« wadlu atatd he 



lilt tfte ^<f>iaJI> Er^>cfieer^ — f«r tfcere are toear oi ibeBot- 



/ - ' The 



-« d«- do«tM(Sv t&e UH3Ee of ifce ejeloae^ jiisc 



•i jcsoersv — oa* tJ 



^aj* ror 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE S3 

liie il<:'^\■(^J»aIX:'rl^ oi xjie aav i^.-jj w^i-ac - .v 

inadequate to express the sorrow. - - and h' ^ 

dition of tlie citizens of New Riehjoiond- Hundreds were with- 
out homes, and but for the prompt assistance of friends would 
be huii^rv and naked. There was scarcely a home in this once 
happ\-, jjrosperous little city but was a home of mourning. Yet, 
though homes and hearts were broken and crushed^ thev were 
not insensible to the touch of human 1 - come 

from every side. It came, indeed, like t. — -„^ . j_aes&en- 
ger from heaven, to many, and there is a healing in its toueh- 
The tenderest. holiest feeling in the nature of these people was 
stirrer! by the kindly s^•mpathy and _ - ^ -' - ~ at- 

tentions that have been j>aid. A - _ :>n 

would have to be wTitten in letters of gold, as it is engraved on 
the hearts of the people of Xew Richmond. 

It is too often felt that this is a cold, unsympathetic world, 
but this occasion has taught the citizens of Xew Eichiaond that 
in all the world there is nothing more grand or touching than 
the noble gener<:»5ity and sympathy of human hearts. It comes 
like a revelation of light and hope and cheer after the awful 
darkness and terror o£ a day never to be forgotten by those 
who witnessed it. As this cyclone and its awful results can 
never be clothed in language . ^ — ^ ' riptive. neither 
can the manifold kindness and . ^ uie from neigh- 

boring cities and towns be possibly expressed. Xothing has 
been forgotten or overlooked that could c<:»ntribute to the com- 
fort of the people. Every one has been attended to as well as 
possible, and, while the kind friends have done everything but 
give back life and health, they can never estimate the great good 
they have done. It would \.>e impossible not ' _ ' r some 
c*:»mfort. enc<:»uragement and hof»e f r<:»m the p. : _ t . _ . efforts 
of these thoughtful ones who have come or sent help and sym- 
pathy. Kind helpere left, and the little city had to face the 
future: had to take up their broken lives that can never be 
the same again: but so long as life exists, the memory of the 
kind hearts and helpful hands who have aided the people of 



84 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

New Kieliinoiid will never be effaced, but be a legacy of faith 
and trust in the iioliility nf the American ])eople." 

MRS. L. TORNOWS EXPERIENCE IN THE TORNADO. Jl'XE 12TH. 

■'^Monday, I arose early with the intention of having my 
family Avashing out on tli(^ elothes line in good time, although 
I seemed to be strangely impressed with a heavy, unaccountable 
feeling of sadness. Then it occurred to me that I had frightful 
dreams during the night, and {)erhaps that was accountable for 
my depression. However, I worked liai-(l all day till 4 o'clock, 
and feeling more than usually fatigued, 1 rested on the lounge 
for a short time. J'hen I arose, changed my gown and pre- 
pared for supper. The darkness attracted my attention and 
made me feel uneasy. It continued to grow darker, and the 
air was calm. Then a light rain fell, followed by a little 
hail. Still the darkness continued to increase, so that I was 
obliged to light lam})s. Sup]>er was pre})ared and table set, 
when my daughter Stella, aged tifteen years, called my atten- 
tion to an immense black cloud which was rapidly approaching 
New Richmond from the southwest. Glancing out the win- 
dow, I saw the dreadful black monster approaching. In color 
it resembled the smoke issuing from the smoke-stack of a loco- 
motive of a train, yet more dense, emitting tire on the edges, 
writhing, twisting, and throwing everything upwards, so one 
could see things rapidly whirling through it. Then I knew we 
were in the utmost danger, (billing to the children, I said, 
'Let us go to the cellar, quick." .My son, Willie, a lad of 18, 
came I'unning in the door at the same time, and taking my 
youngest child — a 5-year-ol(l boy — by the hand, and grasping 
a lighted lamj) off the table, we hurriedly gained the cellar. 
As Ave reached the bottom, the cyclone was upon us. A piece 
of board flying through the cellar window broke the lamp chim- 
ney in my hand. I threw the lamp down and it was extin- 
guished. I clasped closer my little Chester, for the terrible 
roaring increased in loudness. I raised my hands and eyes 
to Heaven in that awfnl moment. i>ra\ina': 'O, mv God, save 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 85 

US ! Save us !' Then something struck me. I fell over and 
lost consciousness. The first thing I remember when my senses 
returned was little Chester moving at my side. Then came 
the awful thought that we were about to be killed. In my 
extreme anguish, I cried out : 'Oh, my God, the worst is not yet 
come I' My son Willie sprang to my side, saying: 'O, mamma, 
are you hurt (' ITe was uninjured, and helped me to extricate 
myself, for 1 was pinned duwn by my clothing, which had to 
be partly torn (ifi" in order to be freed from the tind)er piled 
around me. 

"'My daughter Stella, poor child, fared the worst. She was 
iKit x'isible, coverec] up in debris ])ile(l alxive liei'. Xot hearing 
any soiind, or answer to our repeated calls, we concluded she 
Avas killed. Willie tore away the boards and rubbish, and 
saw one of her feet protruding, so he worked for bare life, and 
finally uncovered his unconscious sister. She was badly hurt, 
but recovered, and at this writing is a happy school girl. 

"When Stella thinks of what she passed thr<mgh, she can 
scarcely think it can be real. A wall and brick chimney fell 
upon her. The stones of the wall were on her head. When 
they were searching for her, they walked over her head, crush- 
ing the stones into her flesh, causing her exquisite torture. 
They had to literally raise the stone wall in certain parts of 
the cellar in order to extricate her. Her face was fearfully 
cut. Both eyes were injured, especially the left eye. The 
doctor ordered continual applications of hot water cloths to the 
wounds. Her right arm was also injured. Yet she recovered 
rapidly, but shudders at her experience in the cyclone." 

DR. GERAIM) AXI) AflSS KEUCLKR. 

Dr. GERARD AND HIS NIECE, MISS VIRGINIA BEUCLER. HAVE A 
THRILLING EXPERIENCE ON THE NIGHT OF .JUNE 12TH. 

]\riss Beucler gives a very lucid description of what she saw 
of the cyclone, as follows : 

'T had some work to do which required daylight to do it 
W(dl. Tt was my intention to accomplish this work that after- 



86 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

noon, 1)11 1 the growing darkness rendered it impossible. So I 
thonglit 1 wonld prepare sni)per earlier than usual. When 
about to sit to the table, the thought occurred to me to look out at 
the weather, for a strange roaring noise appeared to me unac- 
countable. So I went to the door with that intention, and it 
was well I did, for on opening the door, I saw an inunense 
black cloud, encircled in flames of fire emitting from the edges, 
approaching from the southwest and quite near us. Shutting 
the door, I called to uncle to come and look. When he saw it, 
he knew wdiat it meant, and hastily cried, 'To the cellar, 
quick !' We reached the cellar in safety and were saved. It 
certainly was an inspiration to go to the door wdien I did, for 
doubtlessly Ave would both have been killed. Certainly uncle 
could not have escaped severe injury, for on the place where 
he sat at table a large beam had fnUcn. The southwest wing 
of tlu^ house was badly wrecked, the roof being swept off, and 
the hea\y rain pouring in from all parts. But we were satis- 
fied that sufficient of the house was left to accommodate and 
ahelter the dying and wounded that were brought in to us. 
XeighborSjWhom we knew, conversed with but a short time be- 
fore, brought in bleeding, dying! Uh, it was dreadful! Such 
an experience I hope will never be my lot to witness again." 

Mr. Cliris. Casanova, one »»f ihe ])i'o])i-ietors of the Casanova 
Brewery, Hudson, Wis., also had a ilirilling experience in the 
cyclone. This gentleman had a \'ery narrow escape. He and 
his familv, consisting of an amiable wife and two most inter- 
esting children, made New Riclnnond their home, whence he 
took his regular tri])S to his brewery in llutlson in the interests 
of l)usiness. 1I(» carried on a business here, in wliicli lie was 
associated with Mr. ('onrad. The latter leaving for supper, 
'Mv. Casanova remained, conversing with several gentlemen. 
Suddenly observing the growing darkness, but believing it to be 
bnt a heavy storm, which would pass over as usual, he felt no 
alarm. Presently the unusnal roaring noise began, and, in- 
creasing in loudness, he jumped uji, saying to liis friends he 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 87 

Avoiild look out the door. It was well lie did, for he saw the 
dry goods store of Ward Williams falling. Waiting to see no 
more, and calling to the gentlemen to follow him, he rushed 
down the cellar, followed by the others. They were not a 
moment too soon. The crash came, and they were enveloped 
in the debris. The walls of the falling buildings around them, 
being of brick and crushing inwards, made it still more dan- 
gerous for the imprisoned five men, who were almost suffo- 
cated. But the cool, clear head of Mr. Casanova came to 
the rescue, and five more victims were snatched from the death 
list. He looked around for means of egress, but there was 
none apparently, and they were in total darkness. In this 
emergency, he glanced upwards, and noticed a dim light encir- 
cling the water-pipe. He grasped the idea, procured a long 
piece of board, and by much exertion succeeded in widening the 
cavity around the pipe, until he elfected an aperture large 
enough for his body to pass through. Then climbing the pipe, 
he reached the aperture, passed through to the upper floor in 
safety. Then calling to the others, and widening the breach, 
he helped them up, and they all came through uninjured, and 
sought their homes, with fear in their hearts for their loved 
ones. But Mr. Casanova's usefulness and intelligence did not 
stop here. Though his first thoughts were for his family, 
what was his dismay Avhen he gained the corner of Second 
street to find his home swept away. He was terror stricken. 
Oh, God, liow fared it with his wife and children I Rushing 
to where the house once stood, and peering down into the cellar 
and perceiving no one there, he madly plunged into the rain 
again towards Main street. There he paused, for a feeble wail 
for help arrested his footsteps. Approaching the locality 
whence the sound came, he saw a woman's form partly covered 
in the ruins of a building. She begged for help, but how was 
he to effect her rescue ? The debris was piled over her. She 
lay beneatli and the beams were over her, except a small hole 
the size of a liand. I'his he widened bv deo-rees, and draa'o'ed 
her through. But she must have been severely injured, for 



88 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

she moaned piteously, aiul was perfectly helpless. Tie raised 
her on his back, and following others willi similar liurdens, 
carried her to the school-house, the nearest house left stauding. 
It A\as some rods out of the evclone's path. There he left her 
and returned to contiimc liis frenzied search for his family. 
He was ill; he felt feverish. Tlie cold rain and exposure was 
telling on him. But on he ran, from house to house, that were 
spared outside the cyclone's i)atli. At hist he found them at 
.Mr. E. O. Kaye's home. They were safe and uninjured. 

Mr. Casanova's family consists of his amiable wife and 
two lovely, interesting children — a little daughter, Mary, aged 
8 years, and little Frankie, a most lovable and clever child of 
4 years. ISText day Mr. Casanova removed his family to Hud- 
son, wdiere he purchased a mansion some time previously. 
There he will reside permanently wdth his family. 

DEATH OF MISS ABBIE WILLIAMS. 

]\[iss Abbie Williams, only child of Mr. O. J. Williams, 
one of our hardware merchants, lost her life under the most 
distressing circumstances. She was out driving on the after- 
noon of the 12th, Avith Mrs. C. Cameron of Pewaukee. Seeing 
the storm approaching, they both went into tli(^ store for shelter, 
^fr. Williams, observing the ominous a].|>('ai';iiic(' of the weather, 
and the increasing darkness, growing still denser, suggested 
descending to the basement. Pi-esently the roaring noise ar- 
rested their attention, and Mi-. Williams, seeinii- the danger, 
called the ladies to follow him to the cellar, or basement. Ab- 
bie was facing the front door, looking out, bnt hastened to 
obey her father. The father was already down, and the ladies 
half-way on the stairs, when the stdi'iii struck them. They 
were throAvn down and cru^he<|. The father had a ])roken 
arm. They lay wonn<le<l, but he conld not exii'icate them or 
himself Avith one hand. Fire broke oui. \\'ci-e they dea<l when 
that fire reached them? The father said yes. lie ought to 
knoAV, for he was with them. lie Avas rescued, bnl not they. 
Their remains wei'e t'oimd later, bni-ned to a crisp. Siu'row- 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 89 

ing parents, how my heart aches for you! This pen tribute 
I am about to offer to her memory ; please accept it in the spirit 
with which it is given. 

Miss Abbie Williams was a kind-hearted, generous young 
lady; happy in her surroundings; kind to animals, who all 
loved her. Her horse was her friend and loved her well. She 
could not be unkind to any living creature. Being for years 
an only child, and the darling of her parents, who gratified her 
every wish, she grow up naturally of an independent character, 
which many regarded as levity. But she was misunderstood 
by those who did not really know her, or could not appreciate 
her guileless, frank disposition. She was regardless of public 
opinion. She did what she thought was right, and cared little 
what others thought. She loved, and was kind to her friends, 
and was happy in herself. Such was dear Abbie Williams, 
and her lonely parents have my sincere sympathy. (The Au- 
thor.) 

MRS. A. G. BOEHM'S EXPERIENCE. 

"The morning of the 12th of June dawned on New Rich- 
mond, it appeared to me, as usual, without any particular 
change of weather noticeable. We arose at the usual time, 
prepared our simple breakfast, I going to church to perform 
my devotions, as was my custom ; Mr. Boehm to his shop. Be- 
fore we parted, however, at breakfast, he informed me of his in- 
tention of driving to Star Prairie in the afternoon, immediately 
after dinner. Ah! if he did, we would never, probably, have 
seen each other again. But as the hours passed, the weather 
changed for the worse, becoming variable. An ominous dark- 
ness overspread the heavens ; little eddies of wind would raise 
the dust of the roads occasionally; then again all would be 
intensely calm. It became quite sultry for a time. Gollmar 
Brothers' circus was in town. ]\rr. Boehm asked me if I cared 
to go. I answered, 'No.' He said, 'You had better go ; it will 
be some amusement for you, but I cannot go ; we are very busy 
just now in the shop. Here is money, and take a neighbor 



90 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

ladv witli Vdu and (nijoy voursclt'. Wni seldom go out here.' 
I told him that 1 had my (»\Uiiig already this moriiinc as far 
as the rhiirch. That sntHeed ft)r me. Then we parted. 

"I Mii'inii tlic forenoon T praeticed on my piano, little think- 
ing it was for the hist lime I phiccd my i:<il<l watdi iijxm it, 
in order not to exceed tlie lime riMpiired to make due ])repara- 
tions for dinner. My watch, a valnable one, with a l)ox of 
jewelry, 1 never ex])ect to see again, though several times liberal 
rewards have been offered through the jiapers. My piano, 
well, it shared the fate of others, that is, the handsome case was 
a complete wreck, but the interior mechanism, that is, the 
sounding-board, etc., were uninjured. But the company from 
wdiom T purchased the piano, the Cable Piano Company, has 
boomed that up, so there is no further need of my laudations 
here. 

"During dinner Mr. Boehni remarked that he feared a rain 
storm Avould prevent his driving either to Star Prairie, Deer 
Park or Clear Lake, a distance of twenty miles. Still, if the 
weather changed, he would certainly go. But, instead of be- 
coming more favorable during the afternoon, the darkness in- 
creased, and occasionally I would lay down the book I was 
reading, and go out to scan the weather. 1 could see Mr. 
Boehm doing the same from his shop door. Tie seemed very 
often out at the door, anxiously looking at the clouds, yet little 
anticipating the awful catastrophe soon to follow. It was 
about 4:30 p. m., but I thought it was an hour later. I began 
to prepare supper. I lighted tlic him])s in tlic dining-room and 
sitting-room, for the ominous darkness grew still (hirker, and 
the air was calm and sultry. I v.'ondered why ]\Ir. Boehm did 
not come to supper. I glanced at the clock and was surprised 
to find I was calculating an lionr in advance of the true time. 
Then I looked once more at the weather, and a fearful dread of 
something seemed to impress me. Once more I looked at the 
ch)ek. It was ten minutes to six. That was the last time. 
The darkness became more intense. Presently a roaring noise, 
resembling heavy freight trains passing o\■^']• a bridge, arrested 



i 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 91 

my attention. As we lived near the railroad, I first tlionglit 
it was an nnusually heavy train, bnt the noise grew still louder, 
too lond for a train, even on that evening, and a terrible pre- 
sentiment of some unknown evil took possession of me. 

^'Ifresently Mr. Boehm came dashing in at the door, and 
violently throwing it open, followed by his two dogs, crying 
out: "To the cellar, to the cellar, quick! quick!' I said to 
him. quite calmly, 'Why, Albert, is there any danger V 'Dan- 
ger,' he replied, 'Yes, yes, a cyclone is upon us ; to the cellar, 
quick I' We extinguished the lamps, and hurriedly descended 
to the cellar, he leading, I following. He placed himself in 
the southwest angle of the cellar, and drew me to him. Then 
I realized for the first time in my life that we were in the pres- 
ence of death. Oh, hoAv fervently I prayed aloud that God 
would spare the town and people ! Mr. Boehm stood silent, 
with his teeth clenched. Then came the cyclone ! I knew by 
the terrible roaring noise the calamity was upon us. Mr. 
Boehm bowed his head calmly, and spread his arms over me. 
In a moment it was upon us, in the most terrific, wildest fury. 
I heard the glass in the windows above us on the main floor 
breaking, crushing, as though an immense force was pressing 
it to powder. Then I glanced up for an instant, and saw the 
little cellar window to our left disengaging itself from the foun- 
dation, by some invisible giant force, and the shallow masonry 
falling around us. Some stones from the foundation fell over 
us, and bruised Mr. Boehm's arms. One large rock, about a 
foot square, came tumbling over us, and Mr. Boehm received 
it on his head and arms, receiving slight flesh wounds. Then 
all was over. It was enough — all I ever wish to see or experi- 
ence of the dreadful work in close quarters of a cyclone. 

"AMien I emerged from the covering of Mr. Boehm's arms, 
it was to find us standing in the cellar, with no roof but the 
awful canopy of the heavens over us, and the rain pouring 
down in torrents. I was thinly clad and in my bare head. We 
were both saturated, for the cold, penetrating rain had no 
mercy. Tlio tomporntnre fell several degrees, leaving us cold 



92 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

ami sliivcriug. I,<i(ikiii<; around for means of egress from the 
cellar, for the staii-s were in pieces, helping to swell the debris 
oil the cellar iloor, we found there was nothing but an eight- 
bj-four plank on which to climb. By that we gained the upper 
surface. What a sight met our sraze when we left the cellar! 
'J'lic wlidle t<iwn was down. ()iir neighbors' homes were gone. 
Our pretty home lay one mass of debris. Where were the 
poor animals ? One dog, the brown spaniel, Xellie, a most 
faithful, pretty creature, was crushed beneath a couch, under 
which she took shelter. The other, a black, silky-haired, of 
rare breed, with a rcn-ord, wa^ saved in some unaccountable 
way. 

''Mr. ]>o(»hm, on viewing; the wreck of his household goods, 
said: 'Well, all is gone; we must begin life's work over again.' 
Then, turning to me, said : 'Come, you must not remain under 
this downpour." T was shivering with cold, and thought: 'Did 
I escape dealii in llie cyclone to die of lung tronltlc later ^ My 
thin sli])])ers were saturated, so I hastily crossed tlic lawn 
towards Dr. Gerard's residence, which partly escaped demoli- 
tion, but the roof of the left wing was l)lown away, and the 
doctor and his niece were endeavoring to cover the parts most 
exposed, to prevent the whole house from being flooded. After 
exchanging words Avith them, we ]3assed to Mr. Bartlett's resi- 
dence. The latter was much dila])idated. 1'he southwest side, 
most exposed to the storm, contained a large bay-win<low, which 
was wrecked, the water coming througli the broken panes. The 
bay-windo\v was an extension of the back parlor, the furniture 
and decorations of which were rare and vahuilde. The cupola 
was swept away, so lliat the rain came pouring ihroiigh. Mr. 
Boehm recovered one of our carpets, an art rug, without a 
seam, which covered the vacuum, from wdiich the cu])ola was 
torn off, thus preventing the house from being deluged. 

"Then the second cyclone oi- wind storm came on, wliicli lasted 
far in the night. Then could he heard the wnil of anguish 
from the town two l»locks away — the ncu'ghing of horses fright- 
ene<l, woniide(l, looking for their masters. Tlic |ieo|)le, 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 9a 

wounded, dying, crushed, came in, carried on doors or boards. 
Oh, the sight of those dear, stricken sufferers! That awful 
night, no tongue can tell! Ko pen can describe it! Mr. and 
AFrs. Bartlett did their utmost to make the sufferers as com- 
fortable as possible. Her moquette rugs were rolled up, laid 
on the floor, and the wounded laid upon them. The beds, on 
account of the removal of the cupola, Avere w^et, and unfit for 
use, or they would be utilized for the sick. One young girl 
from Fargo, avIio was on a visit here, w^as brought into Mr. 
Bartlett's. She was apparently helpless. A long wound across 
her forehead, just above her brows, was bleeding profusely. 
Her T took charge of, but the chimneys being all down, we 
could not get warm water to bathe the wounds of the sufferers. 
So I washed them with cold water, and made them as easy as I 
could. One of the actors from the circus was brought, in and 
laid on a (-(Mich in Mr. Bartlett's bedroom. He had three ribs 
broken. Mv. Boehm did all ho could for him. The Gollmar 
Brothers (circus) had a salaried physician engaged, who fol- 
lowed the circus, and attended the wounded members during 
their illness after the cyclone. There were five members of the 
circus injured, including one of the Gollmar brothers (pro- 
prietors). Doctors arrived the next day and the wounded were 
attended to. Most of them were removed to the hospitals at 
St. Paul. 

"Mrs. Bartlett Avas niucli worried over her son Lawrence, 
who Avas expected home that evening from Princeton University, 
X. J. She natiirally thought he must be on the road some- 
Avhere, and hearing of washouts and other dire calamities caused 
by the scA^ere storm Avave then rife over other localities, but not 
so severe, nor in tlie form of a cyclone. Still, her motherly 
instincts Avere much tried and tested during that awful night 
and next day. "We remained at Mr. Bartlett's residence three 
days. Then a kind friend came from St. Paul, looking for 
me — went to the church, which was used for a morgue after the 
night of the cyclone, to find me. She looked at the faces of the 
dead, but not identifying mine, returned, and finally, by in- 



94 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

quii-ies, found me. 'Come with me/ she said, 'Come with me 
home.' How was I to accomplish this? I had no clothes fit 
to travel in. But one kind lady lent me a hat, another a skirt, 
and thns I was ready, eqnipped to leave the scene of destruction. 
I did not like to part from my j^oor Albert. Poor fellow, I 
left him searching among the ruins of his once happy home. 
With a lonely, desolate heart, I accompanied my dear, kind 
friend to St. Paul. There I remained two months. Mr, 
Boehm came to see me three times. Miss Beucler kindly took 
charge of a few souvenirs of the cyclone for us, and I returned 
to my present home of two rooms, to remain indefinitely. What 
sad changes overtake us mortals in this world ! 

''T am writing the 'History of the Tornado' in a corner of 
one of these rooms. Will things ever be better for those who 
liaA-e lost all, I wonder ? But why repine ? I might truly say 
with the poet: 

" 'Mam needs but little here below, 
N'or needs that little long.' '' 

MRS. JOICE'S EXPERIENCE. 

This lady received severe wounds, as well as a terrible ner- 
vous shock, from which she is slowly recovering. She tells 
the following: 

"I was preparing supper on the evening of June 12th. 
The rest of the family were in the parlor, engaged in con- 
vei-sation with my sister-in-law, Mrs. Casey. The latter arose, 
and opening the door to look out at the storm, called my two 
daughters, Nellie and ]\[ayme, to look, and they hurriedly 
called me to see the peculiar, threatening cloud. I told all to 
go into the cellar immediately ; it was certainly a cyclone. My 
sou, Edward, then ran for liis father, who was in his place of 
business. The boy kept crying out to everyone he met, 'A cy- 
clone, a cyclone !' The cloud meant a cyclone. He had just 
entered the building when the cyclone struck it. He was 
swe])t by the force of the wind from the door (which he had 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 95 

just opened half way) across the building. He drew his coat 
over his head to protect it. His escape was most miraculous. 
His pockets were filled with broken glass and he was unable 
to move, for various articles were piled around him. He could 
hear the people calling for help, and he also called loudly for 
assistance. They heard his cries, and dug him out. In doing 
so they found he was lying between a wall and a stove, and 
a binder, which had been thrown in from the outside, was 
close to him, with its blades so near, that if he moved in 
the least he would surely be lacerated. He escaped all injury,, 
however, except a slight scratch on his hand. 

"At home we were not so fortunate, at least, not I. When 
we were going to the cellar, I sent the rest before me. There 
were twelve of us in all. I was on the third step, in the act of 
descending, when the cyclone struck. The house was lifted 
up and carried off, then dashed to pieces. I was thrown down 
and covered with debris. They helped each other out of the 
cellar. T was extricated from my smothered position, and 
frightened the others, for my face and shoulders were covered 
with blood. My head had been literally scalped, the deep flesh 
wound reaching around my head. My hair was cut off, and for 
many months I was incapable of much physical action. We 
lost all we possessed, but time will, with God's help, restore us 
part of the comforts we lost in the cyclone." 

THE THRILLING EXPERIENCE OP MR. AND MRS. MARK 

CASEY. 

"The 12th day of June, 1899, will be a day never to be for- 
gotten ! It was not a pleasant morning, still nothing was notice- 
able till the afternoon. It became sultry and very calm for 
a time. Then a darkening gradually developed. It increased 
as the hours went by, and a peculiar rain fell. The drops were 
large and far apart. The rain was succeeded by hail. The 
hail stones were as large as small eggs, and, like the rain, fell 
far apart. The darkness continued increasing. Then heavy 
clouds formed. My servant called my attention to them,. As 



96 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

she seemed very nervous and anxious and called me several 
times to look at the clouds, I arose and complied with her re- 
quest. Still I did not think the matter serious, though the 
cloud looked very dark and threatening. I had been reading 
some time previously of the terrible nature of a cyclone, which 
greatly impressed me at the time. ^Vow I distinctly recalled 
it to mind. I remembered it stated the cyclone gave warning 
by a ])eculiar terrorizing roaring noise. Xo noise, at present, 
w^s heard. Still I was uneasy, and the supper being in prog- 
ress, I anxiously awaited the home-coming of Mr. Casey. 
Presently he came, wanting his supper immediately, for they 
were busy in the store that day, as he had more customers than 
usual, on account of the circus being in town. lie did not 
appear much concerned regarding the a2)proaching storm. I 
said to him, looking at the clouds at the same time, "I feel sure 
we will have a cyclone.' He said, '^STo; let us have supper. I 
must return to the store.' I looked again ; this time I heard 
an unusual sound, low at first, like an incoming heavy train, 
then increasing in loudness, which arrested the attention of all 
of us. I said, 'Mark, let us go to the cellar; we are going to 
have a cyclone.' I repeated it three times; he still seemed 
incredulous. Then my sister, Mrs. William Hughes, came in 
with her two youngest children. The eldest, poor boy, went 
to his father's office to accomjxmy the latter liome, bringing him 
an umbrella. He was never seen alive again. We all went 
down cellar, the servant first; in all, ten porsons. I was the 
last. When I reached the lowest ste]:), I was struck with some- 
thing and thrown on the floor, but in a safe corner. The cy- 
clone struck in all its fury. The house and its contents were 
carried a short distance, then smashed to pieces. All escaped 
injury but myself. I had a bruise on my shoulder. Sufficient 
of the collar stairs were left so that we ascended after the cy- 
clone passed on. The rain came and we looked about for a 
place of safety. We saw Tawyer and Mrs. Oaks, whose home 
met the same fate as ours, lying prostrate on the ground. He 
had one arm around liis wif(\ the otlici' grasj)ing the trunk of 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 97 

a small tree. I'he second cyclone or wind storm came up, and 
]\Ir. Oaks called to iis to come where they were and lie down flat, 
face downwards ; we would have a better chance of safety. We 
did so, I clasping my baby boy, Mr. Casey covering in his arms 
our Bessie. Thns we lay for some time, the desperate wind 
howling and tearing over us, and the rain falling in torrents. 
The lowering temperature chilled us, and the children were 
screaming, so we concluded to go under cover somewhere. We 
saw part of Mr. A. Tobin's home standing, and we made for 
that, but the rain was coming through the windows, and the 
cellar was no protection against it. So we went across the 
street from ]\Lr. Tobin's to Mr. Knight's. It, too, was badly 
wrecked and the rain pouring in the windows, etc. We rested 
there but a very short time, for Miss xVnna Donohue sent her 
brother for us. The Donohue residence was not in the path 
of the tornado, being on the outskirts of the town. There we 
remained two weeks, meeting with every kindness and consid- 
eration, for which we feel grateful." 

ME. WM. FITZGERALD, SUPERVISOR. 

MR. AND MRS. WM. FITZGERALD HAVE A BITTER EXPERIENCE 
IN THE CYCLONE OF JUNE 12TH. 

^'Having a w^ell-stocked grocery store on Second street, near 
Main, and doing a fair business, they prepared for the 12th, 
being 'Circus Day.' The farmers were expected in town in 
large numbers, which was verified. Many of the latter took 
the occasion to come in and pay their bills, and purchase more 
goods to take home with them, after the circus. Mr. and Mrs. 
Fitzgerald, having a large connection of friends and relatives 
in and around jSTew Richmond and surrounding country, ac- 
commodated a large number during the day, many of them 
attending the circus. The near relatives had returned to sup 
with the Fitzgerald family and tlien drive home later, for they 
all ko]it good teams of horses. The circus was over for the 
afternoon at H p. ni. 1'liore was to l)e a dance that night after 



98 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

supper. ^lanj from out of town were to remain for that. 
My God, what foolish mortals we are! Our lives, how like that 
of the butterflies, live but for the existing sunshine of the hour, 
forgetful of the icy hand of death so near ! How heedless we 
mortals are! 

MRS. FITZGERALD'S EXPERIENCE. 

"After 5 o'clock I noticed that the darkness was steadily 
increasing, and it was becoming very sultry. Yet we never sus- 
pected danger. Mr. Fitzgerald felt more anxious as the dark- 
ness increased than I did. There were thirty-three persons in 
our house and store at the time. Soon I heard the roaring noise 
and went to the front door to ascertain tho cause. I even went 
out on the sidewalk. I still did not think there was danger. 
The black cloud, a few minutes before six, looked very heavy 
and threatening. Then the roaring noise grew louder, and 
the cloud seemed close upon us. Presently I saw the walls of 
Patton and Carey's drug store, on the opposite corner, falling. 
Then I felt we were in danger. I rushed in, shut the door, 
saying, 'Save yourselves, a cyclone, a cyclone, is upon us !' Two 
men, one my brother, came rushing in, and as they passed me, 
told me to leave there (for I was standing near the large front 
window of our store) 'that the glass might fly.' 

"My sister Nellie and a young lady friend were piously on 
their knees, praying, thoroughly frightened. I told them to 
seek a place of safety near us. We had no cellar to go to. My 
brother ran to me, saying, 'Mary, we have always loved each 
other most and played together, now let us die together.' He 
threw his arms about me, but looking over my shoulder, to my 
horror I saw my little 4year-old nephew standing on the coun- 
ter, unconscious of danger. I rushed and snatched him off, 
and placing the child between us, we embraced again, my 
brother and I, and the cyclone was upon us. We had crouched 
behind some barrels. Mr. Fitzgerald happened to be near a 
kerosene barrel. This was thrown over and smashed, and the 
contents throA^ni over him, so that he was quite saturated with 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 99 

the fluid, which penetrated his eyes, causing much pain. The 
cjclone passed on its deadly mission, leaving us homeless. It 
had swept everything before it, but we had reason to be thankful. 
'Not one was injured in our building. Mr. E. J. Thompson, 
the proprietor, was saved by going under his counter. We oc- 
cupied the east side of his building. We ran away, after the 
cyclone for shelter. Although the cyclone leveled everything, 
many things of value lay among the ruins. The money till, 
containing about $100, was robbed while we were seeking 
shelter. Well, we simply lost all, even to our clothes." 

MISS CLYDE JAMESON'S EXPERIENCE, WITH THAT OF HER 
MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER, MRS. B. C. B. FOSTER. 

"My grandma was sitting on the porch of our residence the 
afternoon of the 12th of June. She observed the rapid changes 
in temperature, and when the afternoon was waning and the 
darkness growing denser she remarked that she had seen many 
a cloudy sky and many clouds, but never anything like this. 
This cloud was certainly very different from anything she had 
ever witnessed before. My grandma is 81 years old. 'It must 
be a cyclone,' she said. 'Call your mother to come and look/ 
I ran up stairs. Mother called me hurriedly. I came down, 
and both told me that a .cyclone was coming, and that we must 
go to the cellar. As I was passing through the hall, I observed 
on the hall-rack my collarette, which I took with me. Mother, 
for some unaccountable reason, snatched up a light mattress, 
and grandma had her shawl. Thus equipped, we gained the 
cellar, but not a minute too soon, for the cyclone struck and 
can-ied off the new addition we had built, smashing in the 
old part under which the cellar was, where we took refuge. 
But none of us were hurt. The cyclone, by breaking the 
foundation of the old part of the house, opened a way for us 
to get out, and we availed ourselves of it after the cyclone 
passed. I was going out first, when mother called me to help 
grandma. In doing so, I observed mother's mattress, under 
which .she crouched in the collar, tliickly weighted with 

L.cfC. 



100 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

stones. These I speedily removed and liberated mother. Then 
we went to Mr. Knight's, but there, though full of ])eople, it 
was far from being a place of safety. The windows were 
broken, and the rain pouring in. We stayed there but a short 
time, and finally took up our abode with our cousin, Mr. Har- 
vey Law, and on the 1st of August removed to our present 
home." 

CLYDE JAMISON. 

MRS. WM. JOHNSON, OF FIRST STREET, NEW RICHMOND. 

In the gray of the morning, after the cyclone had passed, a 
small, slight figure might be seen, with shawl drawn over the 
head, from under which a pale, anxious face, with downcast 
eyes, walked slowly in the direction of the center of the town, 
where the greatest amount of damage was done. It was Mrs. 
William Johnson. She was going on her errand of mercy. 
This little unassuming, lady did much for the sufferers, and did 
it long. The injured were well nursed and cheerfully cared 
for at her home. The convalescent were also welcomed, and 
remained her guests for many months. Miss Lewis, whose 
shattered arm, after the most skillful treatment by Dr. Gun- 
ning of St. Paul, had to be finally amputated by the latter 
physician in order to save her life, was for weeks the guest of 
Mrs. Johnson during her convalescence. 

My relations with Mrs. Johnson were of the most friendly 
nature. Meeting her for the first time at the home of a mu- 
tual friend, ver^- soon after my arrival in iSIew Richmond, our 
acquaintance ripened into a sincei'e friendship, wdiich increases 
as time goes on its journey. I found in this lady, which i> 
rare in these days of the "Almighty Dollar," a great detach- 
ment from the things of earth and a just estimate of the value 
of the gifts with which God has endowed us, considering them 
placed at our disposal to be dispensed for the happiness of 
others. Though the Johnson family escaped the cyclone, as 
their pretty home was not in its path, yet they had, a few 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



101 



years ago, their crucial period. A lovely, pi'omising son was 
lost to tliem by drowaiing accidentally. The shock to maternal 
love was so great that were she less of tlie sincere Christian than 
she is, she would certainly have succumbed. But she rose 
superior to her calamity, and, thanking the Heavenly Father 
for the bright good lad lie had left in her second and only son, 
she goes about doing good in her own quiet way. 

]\rr. Johnson, the husband and father, and Mrs. Stark- 
weather, the congenial, friendly mother of Mrs. Johnson, an 
elderly lady of 84 years, live together in perfect harmony, dis- 
seminating kindness and good will to all. Would that the 
world possessed more of such beautiful characters. It would be 
bettered bv it. 



MR. THOMAS MULROONEY DESERVES PARTICULAR MENTION 

HERE. 




TUGS. F. MLLKOONEY. 



He was appointed salaried secretary of the ISTew Richmond 
Relief Committee, in place of Mr. Chamberlain, who resigned. 



102 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

ill .•i.ii-ii|iiciirr of ill licnilli, I'll .1 line .".niji. M r. M iili'iM.iicv took 
hoM uilli II will Jiiid rllicifiifv wliicli ^-avu iiiucli Halist'iiet iuii to 
all coiici riird. Mr. -Miilrooiicv «li<l not oscaj)0 being a loaer 

ill I he cNcloiir. llis sood stoH Main streot shnred tho fato 

of ;ill otiici's, Itiit llis lioiiic was spared, and lie was lliankfiil. 

llis lioiiii' life is ;i lia|i|iv oiir, llis family consisting of tiu 
aniialilc and iiilclligcnt wife, who is tlic liappv motlior of three 
lovely tliililreii, Iwo boys, aged respectively 1 I antl years, and 
a baby girl id" 5 years. Tho office of Secretary of tl»e Relief 
( 'oiiiiiiillee, wliicdi Mr. Mulrooncy assumed, was no sinecure, 
and lie laliored hard to luako it a success, so that his faith- 
fiduoss and business (|ualitios gave inueli satisfaction, and were 
(Inly ajipreeialed by all llie ttllier members of the Relief (Jom- 

millee. 

A I'lOlOliLIO TRinTTTE TO HOME PHYfllCIANS. 

And oiir [thysiciaus, what of them? Ah! words aud pen 
are mute! Jt seems to mo a moclvery to attempt to picture tho 
lieioism, self-denial and wWvv forgotfulness of self wddch char- 
acteri/.ed our loeal |iliysicians on the aw^ful uigiil <d' . I line 12th, 
189U! As far as I have learned, and 1 have unule careful re- 
search, |)r. l\rcl\eon was the lirsl in the lield ; the tirst to 
re>|io!id lo ihc cmII of duly; (he \\y>[ to answer the awi'nl wail 
of ihe dead and dying. hoetor Kiia|i|t was tliei-e, too, doing 
his best with a maimed hand, which he stuauetl to forget ho had, 
in his zeal to help the wdiinded. Hut Doctor Wade, where 
was he!' lie was in the eoiintry, live miles southeast of the 
city, making an ollicial visit, when the jonindo swept o\er I he 
fated town. The fact of his ahsence gave rise to the rumor 
which was tidegraplie(] far and wide that he was killed. To 
the sincere joy of many, he arrived on the scene t liree (piarters 
ol an hour after tiie disastei-, and dri\iiig as near home as ])os- 
sible, he sen! his team into the country for ludp and ran honu;. 
Here he found all the a\ailable space packed with the wounded, 
about niiieleeii persons. Mrs. Wade had already dressed sev- 
eral td' tlie sniVerers with surprising skill and delicacy, making 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



103 



them as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. The 
doctor, seeing how things were progressing, and giving general 
directions what to do for each one injured, without waiting 
for refreshment or rest, though wet through, ran to the assistance 
of Dr. McKeon among the other sufferers. And there they 
worked as no doctors ever worked before. Every few moments 




Db. McKeon. 

Stretchers, doors, boards and every available piece of timber on 
which a human being could rest were carried in, freighted with 
bleeding and dying victims, and laid at the feet of the doctors. 
Dr. Epley happened to be the only one of the four physicians 
who was fortunate enough not to have lost that night, his entire 



1()4 TllK NlOW UUMIMONI) ("VCI.ONK. 

otlii'i- ;iiul its viihinltlf i-oiiU'iits. Ilr. at least, liad insi ruiiieiits, 
l)aiulai;i's ami sedatives to relieve. 'Die other doctors were 
luiiulieapped for want of these, hut made up for their loss hy 
their zeal and menial resources. Dr. Wade had a small supply 
ol" instrumenls and niedii-ines al llie Insane Asylum, of which 
he was the visitiui; physii'ian. Tlu'se hel})s he procnred, hcing 
glad lo lia\e Ihcm to utilize at such a critical time. 

W litii 1 \ i>i|('(l llic hospitals in St. I'aiil, a few days aflci- our 
poor stilVerors wore located thoro, they were very grateful to 
houio physiciaus for all thoy did for theui. Thoy said to uie: 
"Did they not save our lives'^ Wo would have bled to death 
were it not for them." \'es, they enthusiastically eulogized our 
local physicians for their skill ami i;cn lioness in th(> treatment 
of their wounds. They Avero hnish in their praises. 

When Dr. McKeon was asked lor his experience on I lie nii;lit 
of the iL'tli id' -lune antl days following!,-, ho replied, very mod 
estly: ".My life dnrin<;' the lirst two weeks following the cy 
clone was a total hlank. I know I worked amidst the horr(»rs 
that snrronndi'd me." lie paused ahrnplly. llien remarked 
(piielly: "1 can say no more." Then he added calmly, looking' 
steadily at uie : "Hut Dr. Wade is a hero! lie did noble 
deeds during that awfnl lime. \'es. Dr. \\'ad(> is a lrn(> hero!" 
he I'epealed. 1 saw he did not wish to speak furllier. and mv 
time was short. So I passed out. relK'cling oi\ the compara 
tively unknown, y(>t wt)nderful possibilities for good eoiilained 
in the human lu'arts that surround us. 

Yes, 1 belie\'e the physicians are the real heroes! How 
much more deserving are they of the title than those on whom 
it is so frequently but erroneously bestowed! Which is the 
greater hero — the one who heals the bleeding wounds, or the 
one who bai'barously u\ak(>s them? Doctor Perren of Star 
Prairie douatcMl the most of his services for two weeks, and 
nuiny of the sntl'erers feel a life-long gratitud(> for all he did 
toi- them ill their extreme need. In another chapter 1 will 
s|)eak id' our visiting physicians. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. lOf, 



McNALLY BROTHERS. 

Among the many .sufferers were two of our most prominent 
aii(J clever citizens — f.awyers W. F. and M. P. McNally. 
These j^entlernen suffered much in the cyclone of June J2th. 
They had their office over Patton & Carey's drug store; when 
the cyclone struck, these they lost. The pathetic incidents re- 
gai-ding their brotherly love for each other during the terrible 
tornado I have recorded elsewhere. These gentlemen lost every- 
thing their office contained- — their furniture, library, briefs, 
etc., and by a miracle only were their lives saved. They were 
severely injured. The elder brother, J^awyer W, F., had his 
ankle crushed and his knee injured, the latter most seriously, 
which necessitated careful nursing for months. Lawyer M, P. 
MeXally had his spine injured, his jaw and left arm. He, 
too, was an invalid for some time, but, rapidly recovering, 
plunged into the vortex of business. Men of brains were 
needed to help out the bankrupt, ruined city of N^ew Richmond, 
and the MciSrally Brothers came to the rescue. May they ever 
use their 1;jh;nt.s for tlif; wclfarn aiul \iii\)]i\i\<-~~ of llioir f'^llow 
beings ! 

A VERY SINGULAR EXPERIENCE OF MRS. ANDREW BROWN- 
FREAKS OF THE CYCLONE. 

The jX'CiiJiar experience of Mrs, Andrew Brown might be 
questioned, were it not for the substantial proof in evidence. 

The Brown family, consisting of the parents and sevei-al 
daughters, lived for many years in a frame house, corner Arch 
and Second streets. The father, Mr. Brown, is a contractor 
and builder. At the time of the cyclone he was in Eau Claire, 
erecting a school-house, Mr. Brown's home contained no cel- 
lar, which proved a painful loss U) the family, as the cellar vva« 
the most secure place of refuge. When the cyclone struck the 
residence, the family fell amidst the ruins of their dwelling. 
y\r>. Brown suffered most, her injuries being most severe-. 



106 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

One of the daughters was severely injured, but more rapidly 
recovered than the mother. The latter was injured seriously, 
and suffered much, but the strangest part of all seems to be 
that three coins, consisting of a ten cent piece and two penny 
pieces, were found by the doctors embedded in the fleshy part 
of her arm. Of course, the coins were extracted. The lady 
recovered, and the coins were eagerly sought for as souvenirs. 
To account for this strange incident, Mrs. Brown was for a 
time at a loss. However, she learned on investigation that 
similar coins were in the pocket of a pair of pantaloons up- 
stairs, belonging to her son, and by an almost incredible eccen- 
tricity of the cyclone, the coins must have become dislodged 
and blown into Mrs. Brown's arm. But there they were, as 
Doctor Epley can testify, who attended the injured lady, and 
who possesses the identical ten cent piece of silver that was 
extracted from her arm. Mrs. Brown was obliged to have the 
services of an experienced trained nurse, yet her recovery was 
slow. The nurse has one of the penny pieces, and her daughter, 
Mrs. Kallaman of Star Prairie, has the other. 

EFFECTS OF THE CYCLONE ON DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 

There was something very remarkable in the actions of ani- 
mals previous to the storm in ISTew Richmond. They seemed 
without exception, as far as I could learn, to be unrestful, ner- 
vous, and incapable of being quieted, though cared for and 
petted more than usual. 

There was a Jersey-Holstein cow, the property of Mr. Jas. 
Link. This fine animal kept up a continual mowing for days 
previous to the cyclone. The writer, who lived near, spoke 
of the unrest of the animals, particularly of the cattle, and 
the frequent neighing and whinnying of the horses, as un- 
usually impleasant. And there the matters rested, as not worth, 
a thought, likely. 

One very large St. Bernard dog, also the property of Mr. 
Link, exhibited more than ordinary uneasiness. The faithful 
animal showed more affection than usual, particularly towards 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 107 

his mistress. The animal left home a few hours before the 
cyclone struck, and returned safely the day after. The poor, 
faithful "Judge" returned to find his master's home in ruins, 
and to seek in vain for his dead mistress. 

I learned that over thirty dogs left their homes like "Judge" 
a few hours before the storm and took refuge under an embank- 
ment out of the path of the tornado. Next day the poor dogs 
were seen returning, a few at a time, with heads low on the 
ground. Likely they were forced by hunger to leave their 
retreat. Those that did seemed to be seeking their lost owners. 

The havoc among horses was very great. It was said that 
upwards of 360 dead horses were buried by the committee 
appointed for the purpose. Cattle, also, were killed in great 
numbers. Many of these animals were not killed instantly, 
but in the name of humanity the poor, suffering creatures were 
shot to put an end to their sufferings. The maimed and wound- 
ed animals suft'ered so patiently, yet so intensely, that it was a 
pitiful sight to see them. One fine bay horse stood near the 
ruins of our home, in a pool of blood; in his hip a ghastly 
wound about ten inches long, and deep, which he endured 
meekly with lowered head and partly closed eyes. I went over 
to him, saying: "Poor animal, you too have suffered with the 
rest of us." The poor dumb thing looked with such a pathetic 
expression in those beautiful large brown eyes, then lowered 
his head again and partly closed his eyes. I went away and 
left him there, with another pang at my heart. Soon I heard 
the report of a revolver, and the poor beast's sufferings were 
past. The St. Paul police arrived and speedily put an end to 
the sufferings of many of the maimed creatures. 

The effects of the cyclone on fowl were grotesquely painful. 
Whole flocks of chickens could be seen alive, denuded of feath- 
ers. Poor little things began picking for food in their usual 
way, apparently not inconvenienced by the loss of their natural 
covering. Again, one would see hens, deprived of th^r 
feathers only in part. One old hen was going around quite 
lively, with one side completely denuded, the other side cov- 



108 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

ered as usual. Due fine Mufti had only the feathered rutHe 
peculiar to the breed, which was entire, but the rest of her 
once fine plumage was scattered, probably to the four cardinal 
points of the heavens. 

CATS. 

Cats also acted with apparent foreknowledge of coming 
events. A much-prized ^laltese would be seen going to the 
door occasionally from early morning on the 12th, looking up- 
wards and around her; then would return, mewing, to some 
member of the family. Thus continuing in the greatest ex- 
citement until the cyclone passed. Mrs. Dr. Knapp had a fa- 
vorite feline which was remarkably sagacious. On the after- 
noon of the 12th of June, the faithful animal was very restless; 
would pull his mistress' gown when the latter was seated read- 
ing; seemed to want her to come with him, and exhibited un- 
usual agitation. Mrs. Knapp, not divining the cause, spoke 
and petted the animal, but to no purpose. The cyclone struck, 
and pussy's uneasiness was explained. 

THE CYCLONE SOUVEiYIK. 

"WHAT I AM ABOUT TO RELATE TO YOU, MADAM, IS FOUNDED 
ON FACTS, IF IT'S NOT ALL FACTS."— SUCH WAS THE PRE- 
LUDE TO THE FOLLOWING ANECDOTE. 

"Good-bye, my dearest. I promise you I will be back as 
soon as I can, for you know well how reluctant I am in leaving 
home and you, darling." "I am sure," she responded, "biit 
think how lonely I'll be until you return. But, Allan, the 
newspapers are full of the sad results of that fearful cyclone 
that so completely destroyed that pretty little city of Wiscon- 
sin, New Richmond, I think it's called. Does your train take 
in that unfortunate town ? If it does, get off and view it, and 
tell me all about it on your I'cluru. It may be possible that 
the newpapers exaggerated." 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 109 

"Yes, my train passes that town. I will act on your sug- 
gestion, and perhaps bring home a cyclone souvenir, if I am 
allowed to get one." ''Thanks, for your thoughtful kindness, 
but wait a moment," and whispering in his ear, "Allan make a 
liberal donation to those stricken ones. They must need it. 
We have plenty and to spare. Besides, we have no children to 
leave it to when we are gone. Let us give while we are living, 
then there will be no quarelling over it after our deaths, which 
I hope will be far distant." 

"Good idea, my little sage, a bright idea ! You always speak 
to the purpose, Mary. I will consider your proposition," and 
in a low voice continued, "will act upon it." 

They parted, waving hands to each other, until each loved 
one was lost in the distance. 

Allan Morton was making a business trip West in the in- 
terest of some mining shares, of which he had considerable 
stock. The mines were showing up good dividends lately, and 
his presence was necessary, as the company intended making 
further developments. His home in the East was some dis- 
tance from the station, so he urged the driver to good speed, as 
his train was nearly due. From the carriage window he looked 
once more in the direction of his beautiful mansion, murmuring 
to himself, "My angel wife seems always thinking of the wel- 
fare of others. When God takes you, my sweet wife, the poor 
will lose their best friend in these parts. But may that calam- 
ity be averted many long years hence. I would be a lonely 
sinner without her." 

As he drew up to the station, the train was waiting. Bidding 
his driver good-bye, he boarded the train, took his seat, looked 
around for some familiar face to greet, but being disappointed, 
spread out his newspaper and was soon interested in its contents. 

On rushed the train. It was the passenger limited, but with 
instructions to stop at New Richmond, Wis., the tornado-rav- 
ished district, in order that tlie passengers who wished might 
take a view of the dreadful havoc of the recent cyclone. Yet 
there were others on board ^vhoso ivitorost was of more vital 



110 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

importance than mere curiosity. Here and there were seen 
tear-stained faces; heads lowered in deep thought; others rest- 
ing their heads on their hands in that tired, desolate way that 
bespeaks calm despair. Still there were many anxious only 
from a morbid curiosity to satisfy themselves of the awful work 
of the elements. 

How slow even a train travels when one is laboring under an 
awful suspense ! There was a daughter who was obliged to 
seek employment at a distance to help to keep at home the 
children at school ; a son who had left his native to^^^l against 
his parents' wdll. He wished to see the outside world ; it had 
fascinations for him which must be satisfied. ^NTow he returns, 
on hearing the fatal news of the c^'clone ; but where are those 
dear parents ? Perhaps cold in death. Oh, if he could but ask 
their forgiveness, and tell them how sincerely he repented of 
Lis folly ! Thus it was ; all seemed but too painfully anxious 
to reach their destination ; to know the worst. But the train, 
faithful to duty, sped on its journey. As it neared the un- 
fortunate city, it was painfully evident that the direful ac- 
counts were not exaggerated. At last they drew up to the sta- 
tion, and the awful reality of the deadly work of the cyclone 
burst upon their view. No pen can depict the terrible havoc 
that presented itself to the gaze of the horror-stricken passen- 
gers on that Wednesday morning after the passage of the worst 
cyclone in the history of the country. As the crowd passed 
out, Mr. Morton passed through them unnoticed. It would 
take something very remarkable to attract attention from the 
dreadful scene before them. The crowd scattered, going in 
groups of twos and threes, some individuals strolling off alone. 
Among the latter was our friend, sauntering on by himself, 
too much preoccupied with the incidents of the occasion to think 
of aught save his grewsome surroundings. He walked slowly 
and cautiously over the piles of debris, the ruins of once com- 
fortable homes and active business establishments, for New 
Richmond did much business in early days, and was noted for 
its pretty, picturesque homes, surrounded by numerous lofty, 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. Ill 

full-grown trees, once the pride of the towt^, and from which 
it derived its name of the "Garden City of Northern Wiscon- 
sin." On he went with a fascinating gaze, viewing ruins upon 
ruins, meeting anxious-looking, pale-faced men, intently bent 
on removing the debris, seeking for the remains of loved ones 
beneath. 'No one noticed the stranger who wore such a pre- 
occupied, sympathetic look. How could one, for all were sym- 
pathetic. So he passed on until he came to a pile of ruins 
which had the appearance of being once a handsome dwelling. 
Before it he paused, for he seemed to hear, or fancied he did, a 
scarcely perceptible wail from beneath the boards. He list- 
ened attentively, and he distinctly heard the low, weak wail 
of an infant. Yes, he heard it once more. He was convinced 
this time. What was he to do? He thought first to call for 
help. Could he alone rescue the object that uttered that wail ? 
While deliberating, for it was only for a moment, he felt as- 
sured that some human being was beneath that pile. Then, 
acting on the impulse of the moment, he threw off his coat and 
began with a desperate will to remove the loads of debris ob- 
structing the object of his search. Carefully and lightly, he 
removed those boards that he thought might be nearest the 
human being. He was not deceived, but joyfully recompensed, 
for there to his astonished gaze lay a young child, exhausted and 
moaning piteously. He hastily extricated it from its rough 
surroundings, and felt its pulse. It was very weak. Then he 
examined its light clothing, and to his satisfaction it appeared 
dry, though above and around, the dreadful cyclonic rain had 
soaked everything that lay on the surface. The child's escape 
was miraculous. It owed its preservation to some boards lying 
obliquely over the little one, shielding it from the down-pour 
which followed (like a cloud-burst) the cyclone. He looked 
about for something in which to wrap the poor little creature, 
but nothing presented itself as suitable. All was wet of the 
household wreck, very wet. He glanced at his stylish, expensive 
coat, and in a moment it was covering the poor babe. Then 
his own appearance in his shirt sleeves occurred to him. Again 



ho llivMiiiiu ho wiMiKl iuvostigjUo idrtlu'r; porluips lio oouKl tiud 
soiuo ohio to tho idontily o( (ho I'liiUl. No omo \vn!« nosir. Thov 
IkuI p!^s^JO^^ to llio olluM- siilo ol' llio (own. Si\ hiviiiii' tlio poor 
b;ilu^ down, lu^ boiian lo so;u\'h <\'\\] uioro luiiuHolv (or (ood nnd 
51 drv souiotliiuu" to tako tlio \A;wc o\ his foal. llo was ropaid 
in liis search, t"or smoral ariiidos ot" woman's apparol hiv t'ohhni 
noallv in ai\ niMnrnod drawi r ot' a t-hitVonior. pl^^looto^l hy sonio 
phanks. riio artiolos in tho drawer \\eri> piM't'eetlv vlry. lie 
ea^\ially e.\au\ined the iiarnients, sehvtinsi" a thick woohMi shawl, 
which made him ejacnlaie. ",1 iwt (he thinii." Taking' i( out 
ot' i(s fields, shaking; it les( i( miulu he ihe least damp, then, 
placing it comt'ortahly aronnd (he chiKI, lai»l i( in a clean place, 
wliile he speedily drew on his coa(, t'eelinii' more at ease at liis 
ap}varance. Hn( instandy his (luniiih(s \-i>ver(ed to the poor 
hahe, which he ("eared wonld die hel'orv^ he Cimld procure food, 
lie was alarminl. tor he examined minutidy (he ]^ale, drawn 
t'eadires ot' (he child, lie (riMnhled. Was (he wee (lung just 
savevl. really dying ^ (.\M(hl he no( save i( ( ImK i( seem^nl so 
emacia(ed and s(ill. IK^ seari-hed t'nrduM-. dunking he might 
tiiid some food, hiu t'ound a more gn'wst>me sight. l\>r (here 
\mder the ruins o( (heir home lay presumably (he dead parents 
v>f d\e child, for even in deadi he \.'o\\\d (race (he resiMublanco. 
Considering l\u' a momeni wha( was hes( to he doni^ in order 
to save (he lil'e o{ (he chiKl hv prov'iu'ing ("ovhI, and (ha( immo- 
dia(ely. ("or (he child was surely s(arving (o deadi. Hn( how- 
was he (o oh(ain i( '. lie was perjdexed. A( (his jiuuMure (he 
roar ol' a (rain coming ("rem (he wes( was ht^arvl. The diought 
tlashcil upon him. autl he vowed he would i>n( i( into execution. 
"\ will (ake \\io hahe home (o Mary, provided i( does not die 
on mv hands het'i>re 1 reach her. This will he (he 'souvenir' 1 
]nvuused her. t^h! it" i( is m^t too far gone! How 1 hope it 
uuiy live!" Kvery odier cv>nsidera(io)i was forgo((en, in (he hope 
of saving (he child anil bringing i( home. The business ho loft 
home for. his nrci'ssary presi>nri> a( (h»> mining otUce, all —all 
forgv((eu in his anxiety (o save (he li('e ol" (he child, ""i")!!, it it 
is onlv >av.'.l ! How 1 hi>pe i( may live!" Such were his 



THE NEW KICHMON/; CYC/.ONE. 113 

thoiijifhtH. With the poor iamtHhtufs ^>a^^; carefully oA'dH^fA In 
hjH arrriH, ho rriado (\'\rcA^\y for tho Htaiion hito, for tho Htation 
shared the fate of llie re?it, J/Ooking down at hirnn^df, or rather 
at hiH carefully carried burden, he exclaimed aloud : '*Well, by 
Jove, 1 do look rnoHt comical, carrying thin poor kid, like a full- 
fledged nurbery maid." ile abruptly haUjcA in hia briiik walk, 
refl<^;ted for a moment; then he ^Imu^A around and the dread- 
ful traccH of the deva»tation around him Ht/mdUA his thougbtn, 
and he murmered softly: '^ A])\H:'driiu<-j-M to the winds. I will 
save and guard you, prx^r little thing, with my life. You have 
Uen given into my hand» by the Supreme I:^;ing, and I do but 
hope you will l>e spared t/; c^^rnfort us and fill the gap in our 
happy but childleHH liven I" Thi-i Holihyjuy wan brought t/^ an 
end by arriving at the station. 

The ea.st-bound passenger loomed in sight, for the train he 
came on had long since passed on to its destination. But trains 
were coming in from east and we«t, bringing provisions and 
succor t/^ the poor cyclone sufferers. So ^Ir. A. Morton, with 
his burden, fpjietly Ix^arded the train going east, and no one 
seemed t/^ f^estow a single glance on him. Every one was too 
busy at that awful time. O bless^^d humanity, how beautiful 
you are in your charity! He with his burden was ry;mfortably 
seated and the train pulling out, when he unwrappe^l the little 
waif, with a great fear at his heart. He looked closely at it. 
It seemed sleeping, likely soothed into rest by its change of 
position. Poor little thing, lying so long under the boards! 
He laid his hand on its white forehead, and t/j his infinite; sati.«j- 
faction the child of>ened its large brown eyes with a look of 
inquiry, and smiled. That '^if-AXU-A the destiny of the child. 
He wondered where the child could obtain nourishment in the 
quickest interval of time. The conductor came ujy at that mff 
ment with the faintest look of inquiry at the polished gentle- 
man's strange burden. Mr. Morton whisjKjred to him, "A sou- 
venir of the cyclone." No questions were asked. Then he re- 
quested him for God's -mke to pr«^X'ure A^jinf: ff^A, for the p^x>r 
child wa-i ^-tarvinir. The kind he;) r ted cf,{\f\uf:U,r ;j?'-erited. liud 



Ml T\\\<) MOW l{l.ll\)»\NP »'\ritiM.' 

MnoK povtor o««n\c» nl<M>f} wiili tuilK l!ui i) whm >^>M. rui.l ihov 
o«M\r>\>l(o«l, tn)<l ll»o\t»il\( i( WiMiM ho l\o(l«M' Wfumod, MM (ho olnM 
>vwa v\ill>o\i( food r<o loMn; i( \\o\il(l \\o \\\\\vo liKolv tt» njjroo with 
iln i«(ouu>oh. \\h>oh iu\i'( ho vo\'\ \\o;»K I»moK v\im\I iho porlov, 
ttWil with (l>o {U<1 ol' II rt|\ivi( huup hoM(<nl (h(> u\ilK. mm. I. \\i(h ;» 
orrtoKor, hrou^l>( it to (ho rttj\)\inp. h;«h(V \\\\ Morton t'olt h\U 
too m'!\t«M'nl iu\«l tn>H(»<l iho ohliniui)!' poi'tor. 'V\\o\\ i« mnnll toM 
Kpootit'wl \v»<i*^ivfM\ n\ (lv«t. (how M^tuM :» !Hmm1I inimidtv ;\.h\u\\iK 
(fMv«l, till tiM!»ll\ it I'oU Mnloop. 'Pho hoho rto.>t\ uwakouotj. ov.'U 
n\»i ww'xo too.!. h\it thov I'ofU'Oil ,Hivii\»;' it o\y\\ too luuoh o(' (ho 
\V«v\n n»>IK. \\\\{\\ (ho \i(,Mli(v o(' (lu< M(o\n!\ol» \V(«f« rtvXot'tMl, Not 
t\ \\k^\\\i\\\ i\u \ o( !>ppo;no>l on (hi' ^\'o»\o Nouo \\o((' oi» (ho oj»v. 
1m»( r»ou\<' \\o(U>l oo\\\o o\\ '.urolv ;>( (ho uo\( ;i(:Uiot». thov (ho\it»h(. 
\\ on\<M» know (ho wjuUm o(" ohihlr«M» no iiwioh h«*((iM- (h;n\ n»on. 
It nootno.l »>\«N\"o mjHwwmI (o (hou\ 

Th«' \vhi:»(h> Mow, Tho (lrf<( !«({Uiou \v«h n»{«oho»l j«{(ov loov- 
iuji Now Kioh»\\»*\\»l, Tho {Vi\\\\ :i(oppoil; tivo pn!>r>on^\MN honnlovi 
rtt thir* MttUion. !U\hM>>^ (ho\\\ ;« liwlv w>(h n runiUl Ivu o(' nho\»t 
tU'O Vx^«rx> ImU lho\ (ooK mojU;* no;»v (ho ilooc (ho\ on(oro«l. 
whilo tl»o horo \\\' o(»r -tkotol^ wus* ;>( tho opposito owA How ho 
Km\»;,>^1 t'ov iM?*tr\»oti»M»s to 0!»rt» (ov [\\o oluUl, \ os. ho wms 
|\lo{>:»o»l to r.oo thiU s(nn\u>^ l;i»l\ hv\!>r<l tho OfU". Thov iniifht 
Kvow»o wo<p>{\i\\(o<r v^ho w>>uM rot\»lov hiu\ ;.oi\\o .Mssi;»(;u>»'o in 
^tv»^{n^l (o hi?« ohju>^\^ ; lni( how wns ho (v> »u;»ko hiu\sol(" ;u\vi his 
\V{n\(> k\\ow»\'^ Uo (houi>-h( {»iS,{\i(\ o(' \\w o«m\«1uo(o»- ; ho wvniKl 
W tl»o mo»li«tor, llo wx>nhl pnns \\\\\\ t»> t!>k»' tho (ioko( t'nMW 
t.l\o Irt^t «rriv«l, Mo w«h uo( n»is(nko\\. Tl^o oo»\\l\»o(or tor (ho 
iitssM\*l tiu\o wj\s «ppo{>lo\l to. Ho kin«Uy lis(o\\o»l (o Mv. Mv>r 
ton's »>T^p\os( th.'it tho liulv sliouKl U^ ;>ppo!>lo»l t\> ;>uvl \i\l"oru\0\i 
ot" (ho s\t\\rt(io\\ v>(' luu\sol(' ;»\\»1 ohilvl . (h;»( h\s oh!U'>»>^ wjis (ho 
\\mIv s\»vvi\\>r ot" t\ uA'Mwo who W{>s killo»l i»\ tho o\oKm»o M 
Kow )\io))U\ou\l, oto- Tlio \\M\*l\\ot\>r t"\»l(illo»l his inissioii. 
l*t^vHtM\tK tl»o l!»\K'?» t«oo i>ss\M\vo\l rtu oxpixvisivMi «M \n(ouso in 
tnwv^t, Sho ijhuu^sl k>ok to wliotv tho !»\i\\i»vt of o\M\vo»'Srt(\\>»\ 
\V{«:t soattnl wi(l\ (ho \'luM ; (hon {M\v»o. whispot^nl ;» t\'\\ wv^wi* 



IIU'-'. NKW ffHIMMONf) C.yCl.ONK. 115 

to the gt;iitl«'rriaii hosido hor, firriil<<l fit li<r lit.tlo son, Hfid, stofuly- 
iii^ licrsclf, wulkod flown t^ Mr. MV»rt.oii nud Jiis ifitemstirig find. 

I lion fi c(>r(\'\{\\ {\ci\uf\]ul(ii\(u>, ft[>rfin^ np, f.xf)]Hnfit,ioTia took 
(ilficc, Jiiid tlio. niotJiorly inatinrts in ^ood Mrs. i»owlos woro 
nronsc.d. Shn took tlio. little on*', sfivv to its nor.ossHry f.orn- 
fofts find I'ondo.rr.d fill tlio fissistfinfo poBsiMo, I'.nt tlio |i<»or 
rliild Ktood in need of n (dningo of gfirrnonts. Wlnit wns to l>o 
'lono i Onr friorid told tlio Ifidy tinit inonf^y was no object. All 
llifit. it r-oiild |»rof,iirf would ho fit lior disposal, ('onld .she {>ro- 
ciiro tlio. nooo.ssfiry olotliin^, slio, rni^lit iitili/,o, finy firrioiint for 
tlio, rolio.f of tlio child. 

Mrs. Ilowlos and ffimily, consisting of lifw Imshfind, son find 
two stndo.nts, nopfiows of the forrnor, woro. ^oin^ sixty inilos 
down tlio, lino ho.foro, tlio-y would roach thoir dostination. 'f'hus 
niany Ikmu's wonld olapso hoforo thoy (tonid loavo tho train. Tho 
damp olothifi^ on tho f)Oor child noodod irnrnodiatc rcrnoval. 
What ooiild thoy do? Whilo, thoy woro con joctnrin^, anotho.r 
-tation wfis reached. It was tfie liandsorno and f)rosperou.s oity 

f Unds/jn, fmito ft lar^e place, and young children's clothing 
conid oasily ho [»rocured thfiro, iJut how were they U> ho gotten ? 
Tho train wonld not stop ion^ onoiigh to flo tho, purchasing, 
lie ooiild not do it alorif;, and ho. was roluctant to part with the 
good ,Mrs. iJowIos. Whilo, in this ornergency, tho train stopped, 
and .sorno, ladies got on hoard at Ifiidson, and woman's wit came 
to the rosciie. It ne.ver fails in a dilo,mma, especially in ono 
lioro children are concerned. .Mrs. I'.owlos si/.ed np the new- 

'>mers as .s/)f>n as they were seated, and said "Wait," and hack 
iifi tfio fiislo she wont to the la<lies, and in hor womanly way 
inado known the wants of tho suffering child. The new group, 

lio majority of whom were ladies, Ixy.ame at once most int/;T- 
tod, find grips and satchels were immodiately opened, and as 
I wo of the jadios wore accompaniod hy small ohildro.n, tlio nood- 
fnl arti(dos wero soon j»roduc^;d, and willing hands and kindly 
hearts were rfrady to snccor the hahy's needs. So Mrs. fiowlcs 
marched hack to Mr. .Mort'^)n with a half do/fin ladies hringing 
"" ''"■ ••'•ar fn fi few rhomonfs hahy's dfirrift clothing wa.«* 



116 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

removed, an J drv. warm garments were substituted. The little 
one was now made as comfortable as possible, and the original 
proprietor was minus for the time being of his charge, each 
lady vying with the other to nurse and care for the cyclone child. 
Mr. Morton, relieved of his charge, and finding his hands free, 
carefully packed away in a paper the original baby clothes, 
which he tJionglit his duty, for reference and proof, if at some 
future period relatives might trace and lay claim to the child. 
Then for the first time the thought occurred to him that later 
on, after he and his admirable wife had lavished their wealth 
of affection on this unknown child, relatives might trace its des- 
tination, claim it, and their prior claim of kinship would de- 
prive them of the fostered darling, and perhaps break their 
hearts. Ah, yes, trouble might come, but that could not be to 
take or even claim the poor child, for would it not have died 
were it not for him ? Did he not see its poor dead parents ? 
He reflected for a nmrnent. Would it not have been better to 
have made known his find and delivered the child up to the 
proper authorities of the place ? But who were in authority ? 
All seemed chaos in that ruined city. Pie found the babe ; 
he intended to do well by it, as if it were his ovm child. Then 
if the proper authorities came to claim it, he would deliver it 
up and think no more about it. Yet that was impossible. 

Why was it that the matter-of-fact Mr. Morton grew so sud- 
denly attached to the child ? The child lay in his arms but a 
few hours. That solved the mystery. His arms had never 
encircled an infant's form before. All his fatherly instincts 
were aroused. He weaved in his mind vast possibilities for the 
future of that child. He was rich. But now he would take 
still greater interests in his monetary speculations, for the boy 
would bear his name. Such were his thoughts. 

The news spread around the car, somehow, that he was the 
child's uncle; that its parents were killed by the tornado; that 
he went to seek for his relatives, and found only this poor little 
waif, nearly dead from neglect and starvatinn. He was ])leased 
at the tni-n of affairs. "Let that ]^ass cni-reut," he tliought ; 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 117 

"partly true, yet the main point is false. i did not circulate 
the rumor, and no one suii'ers by it. Let it stand," lie thought. 
He was far from displeased. He' rather rejoiced at the turn 
evencs took. 

The train rushed on to its destination. Passengers came on, 
his "souvenir," as he called it, lay calmly sleeping in good 
Mrs. Bowles' arms. All seemed serene. But to his intense 
mortification he became lionized by all in the car, as the "hero" 
of the cyclone city, avIio came from the ]^ast, seeking his rela- 
tives, digging for them beneath the ruins of their home and 
coming across this child alive. If it were not for his timely 
assistance, this interesting babe would be numbered among the 
dead, etc. So matters were at this high state of temperature, 
when ^Irs. Bowles announced, with tears in her eyes, that the 
next station would be their destination, and they would have to 
part. She carefully laid the sleeping babe in Mr. Morton's 
arms, giving him instructions how to care for it the rest of the 
journey. He cordially thaidvcd her, feeling she had been to 
him a sincere friend in need. She on her part felt doubly 
repaid, like all generous souls, by the good oflices she was able 
to render. Having obtained each other's addresses, she said 
she would write first, for she took an interest in the dear child, 
etc. Thus they parted, lie clasping her hand, saying, "I will 
never forget your kindness, Mrs. Bowles, and hope you and my 
wife will meet in the near future." The group of five went out 
at the station. But what appeared strange to him was that 
other ladies coming on along the line at various points were 
made acquainted with his situation, and he was thus promptly 
relieved of his charge. Though he protested, they insisted. 
This time he was reluctant to part with the child from his shel- 
tering arms, but the gentlemen Avith whom he was conversing 
intimated to him that it was l)est to let the ladies have their 
way. They undei'stood how to care for the youngster better 
than be did, etc. So he was obliged to submit. B\it, happily, 
the poor, worn out liabe slept on. Poor wee thing ! The warm, 
drv clotiiinc nnd frcrnu'iit nonrisliniont so<')n sliowed it? bene- 



118 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

ficial effects on the child, aided by a good constitution. The 
waif was fast regaining its wonted vigor. Mr. Morton was well 
pleased, and he had much reason. Friends sprang up on every 
side, anxious to assist him in caring for the babe. His anxiety 
and solicitude had long since vanished. He felt his journey 
west was guided by a higher power than mere accident. The 
man was a consistent Christian, but no zealot. He believed 
in living and let live. So, at ease with himself and those 
around him, wherever he went, Allan Morton was a favorite. 

Even on this journey, and the peculiar circimistances con- 
nected M'ith it, he made, as usual, his life-long friends. But 
the journey was a long one, and the nights more or less dis- 
turbed, jet the man quietly submitted, and the luxurious palace 
sleeping car he occupied obviated many difficulties and incon- 
veniences. The black porter, Davy, was of much assistance to 
him during the nights on the journey. 

The child, his one thought, was well cared for, and the little 
fellow showed remarkable vitality and gaiety of spirit before 
they reached their journey's end. They were now drawing near 
to his home. How pleased Mrs. Morton would be at his prema- 
ture arrival ! How agreeably surprised at the veritable ''sou- 
venir!" x\t least, he reflected, he kejDt one promise sacred in 
his life. Would all things turn out for the best in the future ? 
"Quen sabe !" 

At last the turrets of his pretty home on the banks of the 
Hudson River, well called the "Rhine of America," appeared 
in sight. How pretty they looked in the sunshine ! He had 
built his villa on an eminence that commanded a view of the 
surrounding country, and which could be distinctly seen from 
the train as they approached the rural station. On leaving 
the train, he stepped into his own carriage, which awaited him 
by direct order of a telegram sent in advance. How surprised 
Mrs. Morton will be, he thought. But no less suprised was 
James, the coachman, as he welcomed Mr. Morton home. He 
scrutinized the carefully carried bniulle so gingerly handed him 
to hold, while j\[r. Morton stepped in and took his seat, and still 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 119 

further surprised was James when the former smilingly asked 
him to return him his boy. Taking the little fellow from 
James with an air of ownership, and settling himself com- 
fortably among the cushions, he unwrapped the child, who 
crowed, reaching out his tiny hands, greatly to the amusement 
of Mr. Morton and James, the latter standing gazing in speech- 
less wonder on the pair, till quietly aroused to duty. 

At last the vehicle was in motion and drove smartly to the 
villa. Slowly driving up the avenue to the hall door, he per- 
ceived Mrs. Morton standing awaiting him. With a glad look 
of surprise on her calm, handsome face at liis short absence, 
which was quickly replaced by speechless inquiry, when, alight- 
ing from the carriage, he placed in her arms the smiling, pretty 
babe. "This is your cyclone souvenir, Mary. I'll tell you 
all about it when we go in." Thus, suiting the action to the 
word, he caressingly laid his hand on her shoulder, and the 
happy trio walked into the drawing-room. There the promised 
explanation took place. There Mrs. Morton was made ex- 
tremely happy when she clasped to her bosom the pretty, brown- 
eyed child, saying: "You will be my own darling. God has 
placed you in our hands, whom death alone shall part." Then, 
both standing up, by a sudden impulse, raised their hands and 
eyes to heaven, saying: "For the sake of your departed par- 
ents, whoever they may be, we will guard and cherish you, and 
train you to be a good man, as they doubtless would have 
done who were so suddenly snatched out of life by an awful 
death. As we do by you, poor babe, may it be done to us 
hereafter." Then, continuing, and raising her eyes to heaven, 
she quietly said : "Oh, parents of this dear little child, if you 
have power to be near us, witness our devotion and affection in 
the education of this child thus placed in our hands ! May God 
spare you sweet babe," and kissing the rosy lips of the child, 
she whispered, "My cyclone souvenir ! My lovely cyclone sou- 
venir!" We leave them in their happiness, and reluctantly 
turn to complete our sad "History of the Tornado." 



120 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



MRS. H. W. FINK'S EXPERIENCE. 

"Alxait ;") :4-r> p. in. 1 Imd prcparod siijtpcr, ami. remarking 
tlic increasing darkness, I, willi one of my daughters, went on 
the porcli to look at the weather. Towards the southwest we 
looked, and saw two clonds coming simultaneously from that 
direction; one green, emitting various rays of the same color; 
tlie other a copper color. For a moment I tlioniilit if was sun- 
set, but again 1 remembered that it was June and the sun did 
not set till 8 p. m. Presently I noticed a black cloud, and all 
three seemed to join together. Then immediately the roaring 
noise was heard, growing louder and louder as it approached 
nearer the town, and 1 saw pieces of sticks, wood and other 
things flying in the air, and a clot of mud fell on my hand. 
When Elsie saw the clouds; she said : 'Oh, niannna, it is a 
cyclone! Come to the cellar.' Just then my youngest daugh- 
ter, Frida, who happened to be out, suddenly made her ap; 
pearance, and Elsie said to her: 'It is time for you to come 
in; wo are going to have a cyclone.' With that, we three 
rushed down the cellar, not a moment too soon, for the door 
of the latter shut with a slam as the last of us were on tiie steps. 
We stood against the south wall of the cellar, my daughters 
standing on either side, each embracing an arm of mine very 
tightly. The awful roaring grew louder, completely overwhelm- 
ing every other thought but Ihat the end of the world had come. 
Aflei' the noise ceased we emerged from tlie cellar to find the 
whole front of our home torn away. The rain was sweeping 
in torrents down over the front stairs like the rapids in a river. 

But, my God, where were Mr. Fink and my other daughters ! 
Ida and Agnes were with their father at the store on Main 
street, and all ]Main street was level with tli(> ground. Wc^ 
naturally came to the conclusion all were killed, and to add to 
the scene of horror I saw the lire lea]>ing from place to place. 
Fire had broken out in Mr. O. J. Williams' hardware store, 
and Air. Fink's store was next to his. liuaiiine, if von will. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 121 

iny dreadful tiijprchciisious ! Frida, as soon as released from 
the cellar, started to nni down town to ascertain the fate of 
her fatlier and sisters. Meeting ('harles Nelson, who work(Ml 
for ]\Ir. Fink, he told her that her fatlier was not killed. He 
really did not know, merely guessed, for he did not wish to 
frighten the poor child. However, Mr. Fink and daughters 
were saved and did their best to save others." 

THE NARROW ESCAPE OF MARTIN STROMMEN OF STAR 
PRAIRIE. 

Mr. Strommen drove into New Richmond eight miles to see 
the circus, and when the storm threatened he left the circus 
grounds and went down town. He was standing on the east 
side of Main street, not far from the Hagen Opera House, when 
the storm came upon him, and he saw bricks flying through the 
air. .He made a dive for the nearest doorway and that is all 
he knew for three hours. 

When he recovered consciousness, it was pitch dark. By his 
cramped position, he knew he was under a lot of debris. There 
was a terrific weight on his feet and arm. His position was 
such that he (Mjuld tidl turn over on his hack, and he was 
compelled to lie with his face in the dust of the cellar. How 
long he lay there he did not know. The next thing he remem- 
bered was hearing some one above him chopping and sawing. 
There came shouts, to which he made answer. In another half 
hour the rescuers reached him, liaving been comj)elled to throw 
aside tons of bricks and debris. His injuries were found to be 
slight, notwithstanding the manner in which he had been buried. 
Had he fallen a foot either way, he would have been crushed 
to death, for Ole Gunderson's body was taken out not two feet 
from where Mr. Strommen lay. Mr. Gundc^rson had been 
crushed out of human shape. Mr. Strommen thiid<s he was 
under the ruins five or six hours before being rescued. 

T have endeavored to depict faithfully the awful mortality 
caused by the cyclone, in a general way. In detail, I hav^c con- 



122 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

fined myself to the principal cases. It would take a much 
larger volume than this will be to indite them all. So I hope 
none will be offended at omissions. 

A FEW FREAKS OF THE CYCLONE. 

Judging from the stories of those who passed through the 
cyclone, and from the results as I saw them early next day, 
there is no place safer than another unless it be at the bottom 
of a well with a five-inch cover over the top. There seemed to 
be a pathetic fate in store for those who ran for shelter and 
imagined themselves safe. Thinking themselves immune from 
harm, death seems to overtake them the first. Many ran into 
the open, saying, "We are safe here," only to be killed. Others 
ran from the open into strong and well-protected buildings, cry- 
ing, "Come in out of the danger," and were crushed lifeless 
the next moment. 

The awful picture as was presented the next morning, before 
scarcely a hand had time to throw aside the shivered tim- 
ber, made one stop and ask very earnestly: "Where would I 
fly? How could I save myself?" It was the most terrifying 
picture of power imcontrollable ever seen in this part of the 
country. The city men who saw the havoc had a habit of 
asking one another the next few days: "What do you think 
would happen should a cyclone like that strike one of our big 
down-town steel office buildings. Woiild it stand ?" After see- 
ing the effects of such power, the answer comes very quickly, 
"No." The building is not made which can stand it, for the 
power of a vacuum is an absolutely unkno"\vn quantity. 

Like almost every catastrophe of its kind, it presented queer 
inconsistencies and freaks. Here was a great strong house, 
which had stood two score winters, reduced to kindling wood, 
with not one piece left standing on another. It was an awfully 
desolate ruin, and for aught I know there might have been a 
still, dead form under the pile. As we stood looking at the 
wreck, there came a clucking sound from under a pile of boards, 
and tlicn a hon, surrounded by at least a dozen peeping, flut- 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 123 

tering, fuzzy little chicks, came out into the sunlight from one 
of the crevices. Utterly unmindful of the strangeness of her 
surroundings and showing no fright or dismay, the hen set 
about to scratch food in the good old way. 

There is a singTilar, but an absolutely true story of a watch 
which went through the cyclone. The timepiece, which has 
been under fire and is now a veteran, was an old one of strong 
build. When the storm struck, the owner, whose name is Bry- 
ant, forgot all about his valuables in the hustle for safety. The 
watch was in the drawer of a bureau. After the blow was 
over, Mr. Bryant found himself almost without a scratch and 
went back to view the house. He found nothing but a land- 
scape. He began to search about the ruins early the next morn- 
ing, and here comes the funny, but true part of it. In the bot- 
tom of an unbroken pickle jar were the works of the watch, 
ticking away, while the silver case could not be found. 

Sometimes the cyclone would bound up in the air fifty feet 
from the ground, and then suddenly plunge forward. The point 
of impact was always the spot of unusual havoc. Sticks and 
beams were carried along almost on an even keel until one of 
these downward plunges would take place, when they would be 
inclined at an angle of 45 degrees, and hurled against the earth. 
Here might have been seen another evidence of the fury of the 
cyclone, for frail sticks were driven six inches into the ground, 
while scantlings were impaled to such a depth that they could 
not be pulled out with two hands. These sticks all entered the 
earth at about the same angle, and were often so thickly strewn 
that it presented the appearance of an abatis. It was these 
flying spears and lances which made life so hazardous in the 
open, and gave a man no place in which to seek safety. 

POWER OF THE CYCLONE ALMOST BEYOND BELIEF. 

Picture to yourself the marvelous fury of a power which 
can drive wisps of hay straight into and through the hard sur- 
face of telegraph poles. This remarkable aftermath of the 
cyclone was seen by scores of people. Over near the ruins of 



124 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Eev. Mr, TuU's house was the remnant of a telegraph or elec- 
tric light pole, sticking about six feet out of the ground, tilted 
over at a sharp angle by the storm. In the side, facing the 
direction from which the storm came, was the business end of a 
common garden hoe, driven two and a half inches into the pole, 
M'hile around the hoe were a half hundred short wisps of hay, 
driven not less than an eighth of an inch into the wood. Many 
were buried so deep as to break when pulled out. 

The action of the storm on the trees in some respects was 
curious. The twisting effect could be seen here more clearly 
than in anything else. Think of the power which, in the 
twinkling of an eye, twists off trees twelve inches and more 
in diameter, and then, after stripping one branch from another, 
carries the minute fragments for miles. The power must have 
been blistering, for it even stripped the trees of bark. 

The effects of the cyclone on the animals that have passed 
through and escaped has been lasting, especially noticeable in 
horses and dogs. The former become quite unmanageable in 
a windstorm, giving indications of unusual fear. Dogs hov/1, 
whine, and if outside will seek a hiding place for safety. An 
ordinary storm gives the most intense concern and fear, not 
only among the lower animals, but we poor sufferers of New 
Richmond are in constant dread of the elements.. This fear 
and insecurity are shared alike by men and animals. I have a 
little dog, and on the least indication of a change in the weather 
approaching to high wind, "Tess" will carry her head low, go 
to the door, make the usual sign to go out, and when in the 
open will snuff the air, walk around, facing the four cardinal 
points, showing signs of much fear and uneasiness. 

The storm of Wednesday, August 23d, 1899, during those 
two hours of the wildest disturbance of the heavens, which 
frightened many of us in N^ew Tlichmond, who had gone through 
and survived the terrors of the cyclone of June 12th, that wo 
thought we were again in the utmost danger, poor "Tess" must 
have thought so too, for the poor animal was in the most abject 
fear. Crouching at her master's feet, then burying her head 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 125 

in his arms, breathing and trembling so piteously that she 
eoiild be distinctly heard in the next room. That Wednesday 
morning, during the awful storm of wind, rain and intense, 
vivid flashes of lightning, the station at Jewet Mills, five miles 
from New Richmond, was destroyed by lightning setting it on 
fire. And the oldest inhabitants who were born here did not 
hesitate to say it was the worst rainstorm and of longest dura- 
tion — nearly three hours — they had ever witnessed in this coun- 
try. Of course, the cyclone was a cyclone or tornado, and bore 
no resemblance to an ordinary storm, no matter how severe. 
Yet I do hope never to see such a storm again. 

The effects of such a storm on the weak and nervous must 
be very trying. The ISTew Kichmond people seem to me to have 
wonderful recuperative powers. Of course, at this writing 
there is still a quiet steadiness of purpose possessing them. 
The terrible tornado and its results will never be eradicated, 
at least, from the hearts of the more thoughtful, yet there are 
others whose buoyancy of spirits will lift them above all past 
sufferings; though not forgetting, still will not let the past 
influence their social pleasures. It may be well for one to 
belong to the latter class. But for the most part the tornado 
will be the hete noir of their lives. 

EXPERIENCES OF PHYSICIANS MORE IN DETAIL MAY PROVE 
INTERESTING TO THE READER. 

Doctor Wade was on a sick call five miles from NTew Rich- 
mond when the cyclone struck. On his return about forty-five 
minutes after the catastrophe, without waiting to ask questions, 
for he knew the answer lay before him in the ruins of his home 
city, he threw his horse's reins to Mr. Brickley, who was nearest, 
and hastened home to see if his wife was safe. On the way he 
saw the ruins of his well-appointed office, and all his surgical in- 
struments destroyed. On arriving home, he found Mrs. Wade 
a busy woman, comforting and assisting fourteen or fifteen 
persons who had sought shelter and aid. In the doctor's ab- 
sence, she bound up wounds as well as circumstances permitted, 



126 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



and prepared places for the sufferers to rest. When he ar- 
rived, she turned over the patients to him. 

As visiting physician of the County Insane Hospital, he had 
some surgical instruments and medicine there. He procured 
these, which were of invaluable aid to him. And, not waiting 
for food or rest, ruslicd out to tlie aid of T)r. McKeon. To- 




Dr. F. Wadk. 



getlier tliey workctl all ihat terrible night, the next day and 
the next night, Avithmit intermission. One would be heard 
telling the other to desist and take some rest. And the invaria- 
ble reply was always: ''Yon need more rest than I do." Thus 
they worked, and I may truthfully say, as no physicians worked 
before. (,^al]ed here and there by the sufferers, binding wounds 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 127 

here, then a hurried visit to the other end of the town to set 
broken limbs, or pass their skillful judgment on some uncon- 
scious but loved one, hovering between life and death. Such 
was the work of our devoted physicians. Doctor Perrin of 
Star Prairie, a town five miles from iSTew Kichmond, was soon 
on the scene. He worked hard and skillfully among the suf- 
ferers, and deserves our grateful thanks. 

It was Doctor Wade who recognized the bruised, bleeding 
form of Walter Hawkins, the 12-year-old son of the Hon. S. K. 
Hawkins, Mdien brought in after the cyclone. The poor boy's life 
was ebbing quickly aAvay, and he soon succumbed to his injuries. 
He was the youngest son of Mr. Hawkins, and the fourth of 
his family who was killed in the tornado. 

Mr. John McCoy, director and cashier of the Bank of ISTew 
Eichmond, was picked up with a broken leg by the rescuers, and 
laid on Dr. Gerard's porch. Mr. McCoy was suffering in- 
tensely. The compound fracture was between the knee and 
hip. Dr. Gerard's house being full. Dr. .^IcKeon thought it 
less painful for the suffering gentleman to remain on the 
porch, whence he could be more easily i-emoved to his home. 
After the doctor administered a hypodermic injection sed- 
ative, ]\Ir. McCoy was carried home, whence Dr. Wade attended 
him, afterwards being his family physician. I might mention 
here a few facts wliich I think worthy of imitation. 

The McCoy mansion was not in the path of the tornado. It 
w^as fortunate it was spared, for Mrs. McCoy was confined to 
her room on the second floor, her babe being only two days old. 
When the suffering gentleman was brought home, he learned 
that the house was crowded with the cyclone refugees. He gave 
orders that every assistance, as far as possible, should be given 
them — everything in the house should be at their disposal. But 
good Mrs. McCoy had already anticipated his wishes, and the 
housekeeper and trained nurse were kept l)usy making the suf- 
ferers as comfortable as possible. Sueli are the McCoys of 
Xcw Jvichmond. 



12^ THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

But without the timely assistance of the physicians many 
could not have lived till morning. As it was, three died at 
the McCoy residence that niglit, though the kind host and 
hostess did their best. 

Mr. E. J. Thompson's pretty home was spared, and many 
took refuge there after the cyclone, and there the physicians 
attended. The latter seemed ubiquitous that night. 

Mr. Harry Smith had that night also a very close call. 
He was in the Aldrich drug store when that building fell, and 
he fell with it, covered with debris. He was rescued most 
heroically by Mr. Grant Boardman, manager of the flour mill. 
LaMwer Smith sustained a broken arm. 

MR. A. P. BIXBY OF STAR PRAIRIE, WIS. 

It would be a serious omission on my part were I to forget to 
indite here the lasting gratitude of jSTew Richmond sufferers 
towards Mr. A. P. Bixby, president of the Department Store 
Company, Star Prairie. This gentleman, with a magnanimity 
unprecedented, laid the contents of his store at tlie disposal of 
the physicians for the relief of the sufferers. It contained, 
among other goods, surgical dressings, gauzes, the purest brands 
of whiskies and brandies, approved of by the medical faculty for 
medicinal purposes. 

It must be remembered that not a single store was spared 
by the cyclone in Xew Richmond, from which to obtain the 
slightest article. Hence, conceive the value of such a gift. It 
proved a veritable mascot to the stricken town, and incidentally 
saved many valuable lives, for several hours had transpired be- 
fore the outside world except Star Prairie was aware of the 
terrible disaster. 

Again, Dr. AVade's far-sightedness was very materially 
brought into requisition in the disposal of these gifts to the 
dying and wounded. Ah, who can tell of the many blessings 
poured forth on the heads of these noble men by the sufferers ! 
And these physicians, working amid a thousand difficulties for 
their relief, did they in their zeal think of reward; of requital? 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 129 

Oh, no! It would be their last thought. But the survivors? 
Do they gratefully remember Doctors Wade and McKeon? 
Time is short. Let not these good physicians go home to their 
eternal reward without letting them know that at least you grate- 
fully remember them. A^'hy, in the olden times the very pagans 
would erect marble tablets in the heart of the city of Rome to 
conunemorate less noble deeds than those so heroically done by 
your local physicians on the night of June 12th, 1899. Then, 
dear survivors, be grateful to your friends who befriended you 
in your hour of bitter need. ''As you do unto others, so shall 
it be meted unto you." 

DEATH IN THE CYCLONE OF MRS. C. CAMERON, OF 
PEWAUKEE. 

In the sad death of this lady all agree that a very beautiful 
character was lost to a host of admiring and loving friends. 
Mrs. Cameron, as Miss Etta Clapp, taught for many years in 
the public schools of St. Paul. In this capacity she was very 
successful. Loving and being loved by her pupils, she gained 
unusual ascendency over their young minds, directing them by 
her wisdom and tact for the betterment of their future lives. 

On leaving her home in Pewaukee, she bade good-bye to a 
fond husband, as she supposed but for a brief time. She in- 
tended making a short visit with her sisters, Mrs. S. Boardman 
and Mrs. Gillespy of [N'ew Richmond, thence proceed to St. 
Paul and finish her visit out there with the rest of her relatives 
and friends, then back home again. But God ordained it 
otherwise. 

On the afternoon of June 12th, jiist fifty minutes before the 
cyclone struck, she, accompanied by Miss Abbie Williams, went 
out shopping, but seeing the storm approaching, hurriedly left 
the store of W. T. Williams, with the intention of reaching 
Abbie's father's place of business, O. J. Williams. Arriving at 
the latter, they saw the people rushing for the basement. They 
hastened ^vith the rest, and remained about midway on the 
stairs, for those in advance hesitated to proceed further, for 



130 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

the darkness was total, and the basement appeared so black that 
it was tliought best not to venture further. The tornado was 
upon them, and the ladies fell crushed beneath the debris. Aft- 
erwards, the burned remains of this attractive lady, with those 
of ]Miss Abbie Williams, were recovered and given over to 
friends. 

Mr. C. Cameron arrived on the third day after the catas- 
trophe, quite unconscious of his wife's fate. He certainly 
thought she was safe with friends in St. Paul, and the cause 
of his coming to JSTew Kiclnnund. he said, was a strange, uneasy 
feeling, which he could not account for, and which he could 
not shake off. This uneasy feeling actuated his coming, for he 
heard nothing of the cyclone, the telegraph wires being down. 
His actions were totally unaccountable, even to himself, for 
was not his wife, according to the arrangements she made, in 
St. Paul 'i When the poor gentleman learned of the fate of his 
wife, it was heartrending to witness his grief Mrs. C. Cam- 
eron was niece of Attorney General Clapp of St. Paul, and 
granddaughter of the late brave soldier. Colonel Benjamin. 

A FEW WORDS FOR THE REV. MR. ADAMS, PASTOR OF THE 
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, NEW RICHMOND. 

The effective, yet quiet, silent, unobtrusive energy of Rev. 
]\lr. Adams" was conducive to the relief of much suffering. This 
gentleman sought out the bashful, retiring sufferers in their 
temi)orary refuges, insisting on tlirii- giving a statement of the 
tkings most wanted i)i their ])rcscnt needs. 

He did not only render most valuable assistance to the af- 
flicted of his own congregation, but scattered his beneficence 
on many outside his own ehnrch, who will ever feel most grate- 
ful, and always keep a warm ^pol in their hearts for the Rev. 
!Mr. Adams, and his amiable and acconi|dislic(l wifc^ and family. 
'i'hi> gentleman'^ dmrch was partly wi-ecked. The belfry was 
thrown down and smashed to pieces, but the bell escaped unin- 
jured ; tlie bell that rang so often for prayers. This church 
served as 'a morii'ue duriiiii the <lavs follow! iii; the tornado. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 13J 



REV. MR. TULL, PASTOR OF THE M. E. CHURCH. 

This reverend gentleman was a heavy loser in the cyclone. 
He, like man}^, lost virtually everything he had of earthly goods. 
But he and family were saved, and he was grateful. His 
church, corner Arch and Second streets, was swept away by the 
storm. It was literally smashed into fragments. He was not 
discouraged. He quietly worked and waited, and at this writ- 
ing a new church has been built, the finest in Kew Richmond, 
at a cost of $8,000. It is a frame , built in the form of a Greek 
cross, ornamented with stained glass mndows, which has a very 
pretty effect on the interior, especially when the sun shines. It 
is otherwise embellished and finished oft' very tastefully. It 
contains a fine pipe organ witli double banks of keys. Mr. 
Tull is very popular with all classes of people in the various 
denominations. 

DEATH OF THE WIFE OF THE HO^^ S. N. HAWKINS. 

SHE WAS KILLED IN THE CYCLONE OF JUNE 12TH, 1899— 
TRIBUTE TO A DEPARTED AND DEAR FRIEND. 

"Little did I think on the evining of June 11, 1899, as I 
stood conversing with Mrs. S. ]S[. Hawkins that I was taking 
my last farewell of her. How little we know of what is to 
come ! In twenty-four short hours behold the change ! In that 
time I lost a beloved wife, all our property and many loved 
friends, among the latter our dear friend, Mrs. Hawkins. 

"We spent many a pleasant evening with her and her family, 
and I can assure you that next to mourning for my dear wife, I 
mourned and regretted the untimely death of my friend, Mrs. 
Hawkins. We can better express our feelings on this occasion 
by quoting a few passages from her memoirs, written by her 
husband, as follows: 

JOHN McCLURE. 



132 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



HON. S. N. HAWKINS' TRIBUTE TO HIS WIFE'S MEMORY. 

"In addition to what has been stated above by a friend of 
my family, I may be pardoiicil if 1 ndd a few words as an 
offering or tribute to the memory of a good and faithful wife, 
who always stood by me in the shadow as well as in the sun- 
shine. She became my wife at the early age of eighteen years, 
when life's rosy morn was just 1)l(M(inino- before her, and so 




Hon. S. N. Hawkins. 

faithful and constant in her afl'cc'ti(m for me that I may truth- 
fully say that her memory is without blot or contamination, so 
that it becomes an exquisite tn^isui-o — an inexhaustible source 
of ])ure refreshment. 

" 'The leaves of incinory seem to make 
A mournful rustling in tlic (hirk.' 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 133 

"Washington Irving has well said : 'ISTo man knows what 
the wife of his bosom is — no man knows ^vhat a ministering 
angel she is — nntil he has gone with her through the fiery trials 
of this world.' 

"Jeremy Taylor has so well expressed the qualities of a good 
wife that I adopt his language, as being expressive of the quali- 
ties of my dear departed one: 

" 'A good wife is Heaven's last best gift to man — his angel 
and minister of graces innumerable — his gem of many virtues — 
his casket of jewels — her voice is sweet music — her smiles his 
brightest day^ — her kiss the guardian of his innocence — ^her 
arms the pale of his safety, the balm of his health, the balsam 
of his life — her industry his surest wealth — her economy his 
safest steward — her lips his faithful counselors — her bosom the 
softest pilloAv of his cares — and her prayers the ablest advocate 
of Heaven's blessings on his head.' 

"My good wife had all those good qualities and they were 
freely bestowed on me." 

"I wish I were where Maggie lies, 

For I am sick of lingering here; 
And every hour affection cries: 

Go and partake her humble bier! 

"I wish I could! For when she died 

I lost my all; and life has proved 
Since that sad hour a dreary void — 

A waste unlovely and unloved. 

"O. Maggie! how cheering was thy ray! 

All pain before thy presence flies. 
Care, anguish, sorrow, melt away 

Where'er thy healing beams arise. 



"Still let thy love point out my way; 

"What wondrous things thy love hath wrought. 
Still lead me, lest I go astray. 

Direct my work, inspire my thought; 
And, if I fall, soon may I hear 
Thy voice, and know that you are near." 

-Copied from the Republican Voice, New Richmond, by a friend of 
the family. 



134 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

''Mrs. Hawkins' life was a busy one. Mr. Hawkius was so 
busily engaged with his professional pursuits and political and 
official business that he was, of necessity, away from his home 
a goodly share of the time, and ^lie had to take charge of the 
family and household matters, and in caring for friends who 
came from time to time to congratulate them upon her hus- 
band's success, as well as to wait upon them in a social way. 

"She was also engaged in numerous other works, such as 
church committees, relief committees, receptions for the Grand 
Army of the Republic, Ancient Order of United Workmen, 
Modern Woodmen, Odd Fellows, and various other organiza- 
tions that her husband belonged to. So well did she perform 
her part, that her husband often said he owed his success to her. 

"She was for several years an officer in the W. C. T. U., a 
member of the ISIew Richmond Library Association, Woman's 
Relief Corps, a Daughter of Rebekah, Ladies' Aid Society, be- 
sides retaining her meml)ership in all the societies of the Cath- 
olic Church, to which she belonged. 

"Her greatest forte, liowever, appeared to be at home, look- 
ing after the educational interests of their children. With the 
exception of the trips she took with her husband, including a 
trip to the World's Fair, Chicago, a few short visits among her 
own friends, she was always to be found at home. She had 
taken a course of study in medicine, and although she never 
practiced her profession, yet she took charge of her own family, 
and oftentimes alleviated the sufferings of her neighbors in a 
neighborly and charitable way. 

^'She was regarded as a model housekeeper, and her friends, 
who were legion, very often assembled and were entertained 
in a hospitable manner under the beautifnl shade trees on their 
spacious lawn. She was a true Christian in the broadest sense 
of the word, and although a devoted member of the church of 
her choice, her warm and devoted friends were to be found 
in every society. Slic and lici- Im^bnnd were the recipients of 
invitations from all classes of peo])le without reference to race 
or creed, an<l it is. ])orha])s, not too much to say tliat no woman 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 135 

in the city of Xew Richmond has been missed from all the com- 
mittees, from all social gatherings and benevolent work as 
mnch as Mrs. S. N". Hawkins. 

"On the fatal day of June 12th, 1899, she went down town 
to do some shopping, accompanied by her daughters, aged 18 
and 15 years respectively, and by her husband's niece, a young 
woman of 25 summers, and the last that was seen of them, the 
four were hurrying home, when the fatal storm overtook them 
and they were immediately killed. The youngest son, 12 years 
old, was also killed, and the mother and three children were 
buried in one grave. 

''She has gone to her final reward, but the memory of Mrs. 
S. N. Hawkins will ever remain bright as a guiding star to her 
numerous friends, not only in the city of 'Rew Richmond, but 
throughout the entire St. Croix Valley." 

JOH^ McCLURE. 

The writer of the above tribute is one of ISTew Richmond's 
most respected citizens. A civil engineer by profession, in 
good business times he was in much requisition here, and in 
course of time had acquired an easy competence. Happy in 
his home-life, with his amiable and gifted wife and clever chil- 
dren, life had for him much sunshine. But, as he himself 
expresses it, "A great change came." The cyclone robbed 
him of wife and property, and now the good gentleman is 
comparati\'ely alone — alone with his fond memories of the 
past. And thus it will be till God will call him to join his 
dear wife and friends in Heaven. 

Mrs. Sophrona McClure died on the 14th of June, 1899, 
from injuries received in the cyclone on June 12th, in St. 
Barnabas Hospital, Minneapolis. She was mother of Mr. John 
McClure, merchant, University avenue, Minneapolis. 

MRS. D. H. MENNEIR'S EXPERIENCE. 

"The supper was ready — the family were seated at table, 
all except my daughter, Emma. Observing the premature 
darkness increasino-, T thou2:ht T would look at the weather 



136 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

before I sat down. So I went out on the porch, which faced 
the southwest, and our house being built on an eminence, I 
could have a good view for some distance of the surrounding 
country. I will never forget the awful picture of the heavens 
as I gazed. O, would it were only a picture! But, as the 
world knows, and we poor sufferers in particular, it was a 
dreadful, unearthly reality. The clouds, varying in color, had 
the appearance of a gigantic octopus, emitting through it vari- 
ous tints of green and yellow, as the cloudy tentacles would 
expand and contract as it moved towards us. Then from these 
clouds a third, of quite a different color and shape, seemed to 
be suspended, and reaching to the earth. The color of the 
latter was a blue-black abov«, but as its funnel-shaped part 
grew narrower as it touched the earth, it was very black and 
dense, resembling the smoke issuing from the smoke-stack of an 
engine. The whole atmosphere seemed infused with a green- 
ish-yellow haze, the effect, I presume, of an imusual surcharge 
of electricity. Then the roaring, grinding noise was heard, 
and the monster was approaching. I went quickly into the 
house and called Mr. Menneir to come and look. He did so, 
and pronounced it a cyclone, telling us to go to the cellar. 
But I said, 'Emma is not here.' 'ISTo matter,' he said, Sve 
mnst go without her.' Presently my frightened Emma came 
running and screaming into the house. I was so paralyzed 
with fear for the child that I could not speak. TTor father 
called her and she joined us in the cellar. 

"We had electric lights all through the house, and it was 
one of the saddest things imaginable to hear the bursting of the 
electric lamps with a dirge-like sound, one after the other, in 
the different apartments, and all over the town. It appears 
to me now, after the lapse of many months, when I can calmly 
consider these events, that even inanimate nature was appealing 
to the God of nature for help, or wailing their own funeral 
dirge. 

"The cyclone struck, and our home was in ruins. Mr. Men- 
neir's business was ruined, two valuable horses killed outright, 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 137 

and many others in the stable injured. My right arm was 
seriously injured, and after many months of treatment is still 
feeble. Our loss in property was very great, but we are thankful 
our lives were saved. My daughter Emma had a narrow escape 
on her way home, being blown away fifty feet at a time, but 
as the terrible wind, the forerunner of the cyclone, blew m 
the direction of her home, it accelerated her presence at home 
in the right time, so that in consequence her life was saved, for 
which we feel grateful." 

EXPERIENCE OF MR. JOSEPH BRASS. 

Mr. Joseph Brass and family were sufferers in the cyclone. 
Their home, with all it contained, was swept away. But, with 
intelligence and forethought that few possessed at the critical 
time, he wisely constructed a safe place for his wife, two sons 
and himself. He procured some boards, two by eight-mch, 
laying them slantwise against the southwest wall of the cellar. 
Into this improvised cave the family entered. The tornado 
struck. From above ground the rocks from the foundation 
came tumbling over them, but falling on the slanting board 
roof above them, rolled down the incline to the floor, without 

doing any harm. 

When they emerged from their hiding place and saw the 
large rocks and heavy timber that had bowled over them, filling 
the cellar with debris, they were thankful to God for the pre- 
caution inspired at the right time. Mrs. Brass saw the cyclone 
coming, and describes its appearance much in the same words 
as others who saw the monster within a certain distance. But 
being a lady of intelligence and an artist, I was solicitous to 
obtain her experience. Yet it varies little from many others. 
It, with many others, confirms the fact that the nearer the tor- 
nado was to New Kichmond, the blacker and more virulent it 

appeared. 

■^ew Kichmond, being encircled by shade trees, either as 
nature placed them or planted by man, obscuring the view from 
a distance, so that many only observed an ominous darkening, 



138 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

or an electrical atmosphere. The valuable description given 
by Mrs. D. H. Menneir is owing, to a certain extent, to locality 
and to close, intelligent observation. The Menneir residence, 
standing on an eminence, commanded a distant, circular view 
of the town and its environs, thus enabling this lady to view 
uuobstructedly for a certain distance the sublime grandeur of 
the vapor or cyclonic clouds which rendered such gigantic de- 
struction on the 12th of June, 1899. 

AN EPISODE OF THE BRASS FAMILY. 

When the Brass family took refuge in the cellar, they left 
two favorite cats above to meet the tornado. After they had 
emerged from the cellar, the sons lamented the loss of their 
favorites. They immediately began searching the ruins, and 
there, to their surprise, they found the pussies alive, but one 
had a leg broken. Mrs. Brass, commiserating the sufferings 
of the poor animal, asked some one to shoot it to put it out of 
suffering. Later on a young doctor from St. Paul saw the cat, 
and pleaded for it as a souvenir. It was gladly given him. 
He cured the feline, and at the present date puss is a happy 
tabby with the kind-hearted physician. 

MR. HENRY KANE'S EXPERIENCE. 

!Mr. llciwy Kaiio, a young gentleman of uinisual intelli- 
gence and ci'ndition, and one of ]*^ew Kielimond's most re- 
spected citizens, fills the office of Clerk of the Public School 
Board, and otherwise makes himself a useful member of so- 
ciety. He has kindly contributed his valuable experience to 
the "History of the Tornado," June 12th, 1899. I prize this 
addition to my book above all others. Those outside of New 
Richmond may ask the reason why. My answer is: This 
learned recital of truthful experience in the awful cyclone 
emanates from the pen of a gentleman totally blind. The fol- 
lowing speaks for itself: 

"The day on which the tornado occurred was an ordinary 
June day. It was mostly clear and warm, but not sultry. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 139 

It was characteristic iu this that slight exercise easily resulted 
in fatigue and excessive perspiration, due no doubt to atmos- 
pheric humidity approaching the point of saturation. Shortly 
before 6 o'clock p. m. there occurred a slight shower, accom- 
panied with some hail. The hail clinked against the east 
window, which indicated that a slight wind was blowing from 
the east. Apprehending the approach of a storm, I stepped 
to the door to investigate. The rain had ceased and the sun 
was shining. Although I intently listened for premonitory 
storm sounds, I heard none. The air was vibrant with the 
customary town noises, somewhat increased by country visitors 
to the circus. On every side could be heard the sharp calls 
and merry laughter of happy childhood. 

"I returned to the room and for nearly half an hour en- 
gaged myself with my thoughts, until my attention was at- 
tracted by a peculiar sound coming from the southwest, which 
I then supposed to have been produced by an aiiproaching 
train. However, I then noted that tlie sound differed radically 
from any that I e^'er knew a train to make. Being blind, I 
am in the habit, perhaps, of analyzing sounds more carefully 
than do those who see. It may be useful to record the differ- 
ence between tornado and train sounds, which I detected five 
minutes before the storm struck the city, as many \\-ere lured 
into fancied security and possibly to death by sup])osing the 
sounds of the approaching tornado to have been made by a 
moving train. A heavily laden freight train w^hen under rapid 
motion produces an uneven, jarring, vibrating sound, mingled 
with a confused mass of lesser sounds, pitched in a higher key, 
having somewhat the effect of echo or over tones, the entire 
ensemble of sounds changing rapidly in volume and intensity 
as the train moves over and through the media of differing 
accoustic properties. The sound produced by the approaching 
tornado was a dull, deep, even, sullen, grinding sound, which 
for five minutes grew in intensity and volume continuously 
along a crescendo, until it reached its stupendous climax of 
appalling fury as it fell upon the doomed city. 



140 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

''After first hearing these premonitory tornado sounds and 
referring them to a moving train, they passed into my sub- 
consciousness for about three minutes, and I again returned 
to my thinking. xVt the end of this time the sounds became 
of such a character as to command my complete consciousness, 
and to rivet my attention. Every faculty of my mind was 
tasked into intense activity. Instantly, as if by a telegraphic 
impress, the thought cyclone flashed on my mind, and the word 
flew to my lips in a way that startled my own ears. 

"Before I had time to secure an erect position, I was excitedly 
calling to my mother, an elderly lady who was the only person 
then at home with me. Receiving no answer, I moved rap- 
idly from room to room in search of her, but I searched and 
called in vain, for she was not in the house. I next went to a 
western porch, and judging from the horrible sounds I thought 
the tornado was almost upon us. Again several times I shouted 
in desperation. At last T was successful ; she answered me, 
her voice and hurrying footsteps coming to me from 
the direction of the barn, a hundred feet away, where she had 
been gathering eggs, quite unconscious of the approaching dan- 
ger. In less than two minutes the barn she had left was blown 
to fragments, and the greater portion of it was never found. 
While she was coming, I had a moment to investigate the 
nature of the approaching storm. Ordinary storm sounds 
come to me from a large are of the circle described bv the hori- 
zon. All the sounds of this storm came to me from a single 
point in that circle. I then knew by the contracted area from 
which this enormous mass of storm sounds reached me that a 
tornado was lashing the earth to the southwest, and if it pur- 
sued its customary course our city was directly in its path. I 
went towards my mother, seized her and literally dragged her 
over the porch and through several rooms into the cellar. Leav- 
ing her -^^ath the injunction not to move until I returned, I 
went back to close up the house and put out the fire. In the 
last named matter I was foiled by my own stupidity. There 
being no water in the pail, and not having time to draw it 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 141 

from the well, the thought never suggested itself to me to use 
that in the kettle which was on the stove. Before returning 
to mv mother in the cellar, I went out and listened carefully 
to the sounds of the approaching tornado, which were horribly 
accentuated by the perfect calm about me. Not a breath of 
air was stirring. To the grinding sounds already described 
there were now added other sounds. I could now hear a fright- 
ful roariu": of enormous proportions and of unvarying inten- 
sity and volume. In the upper air above this, there was a 
tremendous bellowing of appalling magnitude, which gained in 
intensity and volume as it orchestrated up and down an irreg- 
ular and variable tonal scale. From the center of the sound 
area there was emitted a pulsating or puffing sound, coming 
at regular time intervals that seemed to make the earth quiver. 
This sound would perfectly suggest the puffing in unison of a 
thousand locomotives, laboring up a steep grade. The heavy, 
piTl sating puffing, coming at regular time intervals, gave the 
entire sound mass a rhythmical effect. It were as if nature 
had for a moment colleagued with Satan to condense the pent-up 
din and tumult of hell into one vast, discordant symphony. It 
was a sublime and appalling manifestation of nature's stu- 
pendous forces. Spellbound with awe, I stood as if rooted to 
the ground. Nor did I move imtil I heard three crackling 
sounds. I then knew it had reached the outskirts of the city 
and had begun tearing the buildings to shreds. The crackling 
noise had now become frightful and continuous. I knew the 
tornado was sweeping everything in its track and was coming 
directly towards me. 

"I took one soul-devouring survey of the conditions about 
me, which I could, since I thought it might be the last, and 
then I fled. The tornado was within forty rods of me. I 
could hear a whirring, buzzing sound as if it resulted from an 
■uneven rotary motion. 'Not a breath of air was stirring. The 
sun was peacefully shining and the air was warm, but not hot. 

"As I hurriedly descended the cellar stairs, I paused by 
the opened cellar window an instant and listened. It was 



142 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

still calm. Just then tlie first air movement reached me. A 
seething current of air rushed by mv face, hissing as it went 
like steam escaping from the safety valve of a locomotive. 
Forthwith, the din and tumult and fury of the tornado was 
upon us. The sounds were not the sounds of wind that man 
had ever heard. They were voices, titanic voices, expressive 
of every shade of demoniac ])assion. They might have been 
the raging voices of demons on the day of judgment, contending 
among themselves for mastery and dominion over the forfeit 
of a sin-lost world. 

"Above our heads, the frame structure, like a huge drum, 
trembled and vibrated from the impact of a storm of brick, 
timbers and broken boards, that were hurled against it. Some 
of the missiles penetrated the structure witli a deafening crash 
of destruction. In less than two minutes the tornado had 
passed. During this time the temperature seemed to hav^ 
fallen at least thirty degrees. A perfect calm had returned 
and it lasted three minutes. !N^ot a sound at first was to be 
heard. It seemed as if hell had been paralyzed. The tor- 
nado had scarcely passed when my mother and myself took a 
position on a front porch with the view of making ourselves 
visible to my absent sister, if perchance she had escaped death 
and attempted to return. In an instant an unknown man 
rushed by, shouting as he passed : 'Riclnuond is destroyed. 
Hundreds are killed.' I was certain <>f that already. In 
another instant, from a point one block and a half to the west 
there floated over the perfect calm to me a flood of sounds that 
will never fade while memory survives. I could distinctly 
hear the groans of agony and the shrieks of despair, which 
came from those who were crushed and imprisoned beneath the 
wrecked buildings, while on every hand could be heard the 
shouts of dismay and terror of those who Avere rushing to the 
rescue. Unable to respond to the piteous calls for help, I 
became unable to endure them longer. I was about to leave the 
porch when my ears caught a new sound which made the blood 
stand in my veins. I waited and listened. From every point 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 143 

in the Avestern horizon there came storm sounds, not so various, 
but equally frightful, as those which came from a single point 
in the southwest just before the tornado. The earth trem- 
bled as if a billion buffaloes were galloping over a bushy plain. 
It roared as if a thousand wagons were tumbling from the sky. 
The rapid increase in the intensity and volume of the storm 
sounds Avarned me that the second storm was approaching at a 
frightful speed, many times greater than the progressive move- 
ments attained by the tornado that had just passed. The vio- 
lence of the air movement accompanying the tornado was not 
due to its progressive motion, but was due to a spiral rotary 
air movement around the peripheral surface of the tornado's 
funnel. 

''The second storm came from the west, shifting slowly to 
tJie southwest during the twenty minutes of its progress. Its 
movements were direct, and its velocity was incalculably great. 
It was accompanied with torrents of cold rain, which did not 
?eem to gravitate, but moved horizontally with the wind in 
sufTocaling excess. Again we fled, but t^ie velocity of the storm 
V, as so great that before we reached the cellar we were enveloped 
in the deafening roar of rain and wind. 

'"'The blackness of night produced by the storm now added 
gloom to horror. We succeeded in reaching the cellar. I 
stood by the east cellar window, listening to the tumult with- 
out. In an instant a group of four persons passed near the 
vrindmv. Tlieir presence was made known to me by the wild 
wailing of an old Irish lady and the dismal lamentations 
of two others of the grouj). The fourth, a young lady of sev- 
enteen, with marvelous coolness, was directing the others 
through the awful storm to my home, the first place of partial 
shelter left standing by the tornado. They had crawled out 
of the ruins of a wrecked home near by. One, a young man, 
Avas fatally injured in the head ; another, a young woman, 
knew her kindred to be dead or buried somewhere in the ruins 
behind her. T hurried above to let them in, but they had al- 
ready entered tlirough the unfastened door. Leading the way 



144 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

in the darkness to tlie cellar, I descended first, calling the 
others to follow. The old lady partially descended and then 
refused to go further, blocking the narrow passage so as to pre- 
vent the descent of the others. To all my entreaties to her to 
hurry, she obstinately replied. 'Sure, weren't we nearly kilt 
in the last cellar Ave war in, and what is the use of going in 
another V Pull her down, Mr. Kane ; I Will push her,' came 
the incisive command from the seventeen-year-old. I instantly 
executed the order. 'Kow. help Cousin Willie,' said the girl, 
'he is hurt.' T carried him down. 'Now help Maggie,' again 
spoke the intrepid girl. 1 helped the dazed and grief -stricken 
Maggie to descend, and then turned to assist the seventeen- 
year-old, who was the last to descend. Five minutes before, 
in the cellar of the wrecked house from which they escaped, 
this same girl had thrown herself upon the prostrate body of a 
fifteen-year-old brother to protect him from flying missiles. 
We were scarcely in the cellar when another group came, car- 
rying with them an injured woman in a semi-conscious state. 
She was brought into the cellar. She, and a grandson who 
was killed in her arms, were pinioned by the timbers of a 
wrecked building. She was moaning piteously. The young 
man, who was fatally injured, was patiently and quietly suf- 
fering until he became slightly delirious and made several deter- 
mined efforts to get away from his cousin and myself. 

"The old Irish lady, who was scarcely scratched, after hav- 
ing fed her curiosity upon the novelty of her new situation, 
now broke in with her splendid Irish lungs into a full chorus 
of manufactured woe. Being Irish myself, I recognized her 
sonorous grief to be the same that wakes are made of, and 
knew it would subside with physical exhaustion. But while it 
lasted it vied with the gloom and contending elements to make 
our cellar refuge hideous. 

"For half a dozen hours I could not loosen my grip on the 
injured young man, fearing that he might rush out aad lose 
himself in the wreckage and the darkness. As the storm 
abated, other injured were brought in up stairs. One of these 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 145 

was an unconscious joung woman, who for hours writhed in 
violent physical convulsions. For a time the circus man who 
brought her in kindly cared for her. I now had more on my 
hands than a blind man could well care for. All who were 
able left the house to search for missing friends and relations 
when the storm subsided. 

"I was now growing anxious about my sister, who was ab- 
sent from home, watching by the bedside of a sick cousin about 
a half mile distant. I did not suspect at the time that a 
heavy steel bridge, weighing many tons, had been blown upon 
the bank of the river, thereby rendering it impossible for her 
to reach home by the direct way. In the midst of the second 
storm, she crossed the river on a Avind-swept railroad bridge, 
from which she was being bloAvn like chaff into the water 
below, when she was seized by the strong arm of an unknown 
man, rushing in an opposite direction, who unceremoniously 
landed her, and rushed on his way. i\iter losing her way 
several times amid the ruins and darkness, she succeeded in 
finding her way home, and passed the most of the night in 
caring for the injured until they were removed to more com- 
fortable quarters further from the path of the tornado. 

"My home stood, yet it was practically a wreck. The water 
poured in torrents through huge rents in the roof. The wind 
rushed wailing through its windowless sides. Broken scantling 
and rafters protruded from walls, partitions and ceilings. The 
world without could be seen through apertures made by flying 
missiles. The floors were strewn with glass, brick, mortar, 
lath, broken boards and filth. Doors were shattered or torn 
from their hinges. Furniture and bedding were a complete 
jumble. 

"From leafless trees and branchless limbs the morning war- 
blings of the birds came to me. Their caroled greetings to the 
morn that ushered in such sights of woe and ruin seemed an 
anachronism. Yet even their notes were plaintive, sad and 
requiem-like. Despite these harbingers of day, in the early 
dawn, spreading a comforter on the ruins upon the floor, I laid 



14G THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

down, without undressing, and drew a comforter over me, for 
my nerves yearned for rest. I pondered over life's mighty 
problem, and amid the seeming evils that engulfed us ques- 
tioned the mysterious ways of God with men, and had for 
answer, 'There is no evil excepting sin.''" 

HENRY KANE. 



PRAYER. 

Help me. Father, with Thy blessing. 

For to-day I need it sore; 
Help me in this work I am doing, 

Guide my hand and brain to struggle, 

Aid me! help me! evermore. 
I am poor and needy always, 

But just now it seems the worst; 

Oh, the load upon my shoulders seems too heavy 

My Lord of Hosts! 

I have no friends to help me upwards, 
All seem bent upon my fall; 
None to counsel, none to guide me. 

Gracious God, and is this all? 
Thou has promised, in Thy mercy, 

To help the needy and the sad; 
Thou wilt not fail me, in this life-struggle? 

Best comfort — make my sad heart glad. 



"I 

I 



— M. A. B. 



J 


'^^^^^m 


1^^ 




m^,^ 


^^^^r 


m 


@i 



J.so. Callahan, Prlscipal. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 147 

NEW RICHMOND SCHOOLS. 

The cyclone did comparatively little damage to the school 
buildings, and the high school building served as a hospital 
and supply station during the summer. The loss of taxable 
property made it impossible to raise the usual school tax, and 
the lack of homes made many think it would be unnecessary, 
as the school would be very much smaller in attendance. The 
teachers of the year before stood ready to make sacrifices, and 
it was planned to start the i^chool with a smaller and run it 
for a shorter year. When school opened, the high school en- 
rollment was larger than ever, and the grades about the same. 
In the meantime the relief committee and the teachers of the 
state came to the rescue and made it possible to run the school 
for the regular time and up to the usual standard. 

New Kichmond has always possessed a well supported school. 
The enrollment for years has been above 90 per cent, of the 
school population. Very few towns of New Richmond's size 
can boast a high school enrolling 150 students. The average 
daily attendance was 136. The enrollment in the grades was 
423. The corps of teachers is as follows: 

Professor John Callahan, Principal. 

Miss Freda J. Williams, Alice P. Kasson, Elmer W. Waite, 
Assistants. 

Miss Ellen J. Powers^ Eighth Grade. 

John W. Smith, Seventh Grade. 

Minnie McDonald, Sixth Grade. 

Miss Addie McCabe, Fifth Grade. 

Miss Sarah McNally, Fourth Grade. 

Mrs. Ida Beebe, Third Grade. 

Mabel Todd, Second Grade. 

Julia Johnson, First Grade. 

New Richmond people are especially happy in the possession 
of Professor John Callahan as principal of the public schools. 
This efficient gentleman is very popular with all classes, but 



148 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

more particularly with his pupils, who never entertain the 
slightest doubt but that he is the right person in the right place. 
Their home, fortunately, escaped the catastrophe of June 
12th, not being in the path of the cyclone. It was thrown 
open immediately to receive the poor sufferers. There they 
met with every kindness and consideration, and there many 
remained for weeks, the welcome guests of the generous pro- 
fessor and his amiable wife. 

EXPERIENCE OF F. W. FINK AND DAUGHTERS. 

The thrilling experience of ]\Ir. Y. W. Fink and daughters, 
Ida and Agnes, are told by the latter, as follows : 

"Before the catastrophe occurred, papa went to the door and 
saw Mr. Hicks conversing with a traveling man. Papa noted 
the appearance "of the weather, and said: 'We are going to 
have a cyclone ; come to the cellar.' The back of the store 
faced the west, and on our way down the cellar I paused to 
look out of the baek window. As I did so, I saw the black, 
funnel-shaped cloud liovering over our shed. We reached the 
tornado struck, and that loud, all-absorbing noise was inde- 
scribable. It ])assed, and we were saved. But papa's fine store 
was demolished. Before papa went down the cellar, he saw 
sticks and missiles fiying in the air, the result of the demolition 
of the Omaha depot. 

'"Emerging from the cellar, with the intention of hastening 
home, for we thought mamma and our two younger sisters were 
probably killed, we heard some heart-rending groans proceeding 
from the ruins. Turning to investigate, we again heard them, 
and ol)served ^Mr. Ilicks, whose store was next to ours on the 
south, lying with a heavy brick cliimney across his body. We, 
that is, Ida and I, rushed to remove it. Of course, we could 
not. Papa, coming up at that moment, and calling Mr. Con- 
stance to his aid, they succeeded in liberating the limbs of Mr. 
Ilicks fi-oni the weight of the chimney. But on closer ob- 
servation we observed that the gentleman was covered with 
blood. 'Who is it V said Ida, for he was so bruised that he 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 149 

was unrecognizable. 'Hicks/ replied the dying man. Then, 
to add to the horrors of the dreadful scene, fire had started in 
O. J. Williams' hardware store, just north of ours. Mr. Hicks 
must be removed. Papa and Mr. Constance again essayed to 
lift the poor gentleman, but he sadly said, 'Let me alone,' 
These were the last words he spoke. A door was found among 
the debris and Mr. Hicks was carried home to his family, where 
he soon breathed his last. As papa was again turning to follow 
us home, Sydney Foster called him to come to his assistance to 
carry Mr. John McCoy to a safe place, who was helpless with 
a broken leg. The fire by this time was gaining ground. Mr. 
McCoy being a large man, it was no easy matter. But they 
succeeded in placing him on Doctor Gerard's porch, where Dr. 
McKeon attended to him. Ida and I, in the meantime, made 
for home, but we were not destined to reach it as soon as we 
wished. We lost our way, making an unconscious detour, in- 
stead of the usual short distance. Passing the Eosebrook home, 
which lay in ruins, we saw Cora and Josephine lying near a 
tree. The former was apparently motionless. The latter had 
her knees drawn up. Cora died from the effects of her wounds, 
but Josephine recovered. We arrived home at last, to find 
mamma almost broken hearted with grief and suspense, think- 
ing papa, Ida and I were killed. Here, too, we found our fine 
home in partial ruins. The front portion was swept off as 
precisely as if it were divided for a purpose. Mamma and my 
two younger sisters were saved in tlie cellar. We were all 
saved, for which we feel grateful." 

L. A. BAKER'S EXPERIENCE. 

Mr. L. A. Baker, cashier and manager of the Manufac- 
turers' Bank, was a hard-worked man in the cyclone days. Be- 
ing a somewhat heavy loser ; his fine stables and southwest por- 
tion of his residence was swept away by the tornado, yet the 
greater portion remained. This he threw open to the public 
to be utilized by the Relief Committee for the distribution of 
supplies. !Mrs. Baker left tlio day aftor the cyclone for her 



150 Till-: NKW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

fiitlK-r's lioiiu', "(ildvcrdalt'," a large estate owned bv the latter, 
about two miles trioii New Ivifliinoiul uii the south. 1 am in- 
formed ]\[r. -1. K. (Jldvcr was a very heavy loser by the tornado. 
The loss was mostly in valuable cattle, horses, etc., for "Glover- 
dale" appeared to be in the path of the storm. 

On .Mr. P)aker's s])aci(»ns lawn the state militia from Chip- 
pewa Falls })itehed their tents the day after the catastrophe. 
The supply cars from St. Paul and utlier points stopped oppo- 
site the Baker house to deposit their supplies. Here a iimnber 
of homeless citizens were nourished with a plentiful supply of 
hot coffee and good bread, sent in abundance from the sur- 
rounding country. 

SUMMARY OF THE TORNADO, FROM THE PEN OF PROFESSOR 
.JOHN CALLAHAN. 

(Courtesy of the Republican Voice. Curtailed.") 

June 12th, 1899, is a never-to-be-forgotten date in the minds 
of any who were in ^ew Kichmond. The day in part gave no 
indication of the terrible experience we were compelled to 
face before its close. Gollmar Brothers' circus was to be the 
attraction for the afternoon and evening, hence the large num- 
ber from the country. 

At 5 o'clock a light rain was falling, followed by a light hail. 
About o'clock the people were' gathering at their homes for 
supper. A few could be seen watching the clouds, which looked 
threatening towards the west. A few minutes after G many 
heard what they supposed to be the roar of a heavy freight 
train on the Omaha, which comes in from the southwest, and 
along the track of which the storm passed. 

A few minutes later the first person to view the awful havoc 
crawled out from the wreck! There lay otir once beautiful 
city, a mass of ruins from the southwest to the southeast. Not 
a building in its path left standing. His first thought, and 
of those who followed, was that several hundred people were 
killed. How could anyone be in the storm jiath and still live? 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 151 

Fire broke out immediately. In a few minutes the rain fell 
in torrents, thus checking the flames, which otherwise must 
have swept over the entire district, destroying life that time 
permitted to be saved. For a time most of those who came 
upon the scene were wild with anxiety, running hither and 
thither, crying and calling for fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters 
or other relatives. 

Those whose neives were stronger or were hardened by the 
awful necessity began an effort for the rescue of those injured 
in the ruins. For some time help was scarce and the need of 
it seemed limitless. Here were men and women pinioned 
down by timber, and fire rapidly coming in their direction; 
others buried under several feet of debris, cut, jammed, bruised, 
bones broken, in all manner of conditions, to whom, while not 
insensible, every moment was an age. I*^ight came on. There 
were few tools and few lanterns, but those who were able did 
what they could to rescue the injured. They were carried to 
the nearest houses, where all that circumstances would permit 
was done to relieve them ; but our home doctors were few, and, 
besides, they had no instruments nor drugs. 

As the terrible night wore on, help kept coming in from 
the surrounding to-\vns and villages. The doctors from Hud- 
son, Roberts and Star Prairie were here by 11 o'clock. In the 
meantime messengers had been sent to find the nearest tele- 
graph office and wire the nearest cities for help. About 1 
o'clock a special came in over the Central from Eau Claire and 
Chippewa Falls. On board were several doctors, the first to 
arrive from outside the county. About 8 next morning a spe- 
cial arrived from St. Paul, bringing relief of every description, 
especially that needed to care for the injured. Later in the 
day a fire engine arrived from St. Paul and the fire was gotten 
under control, ^ext day the St. Paul police took charge of the 
ruined district and rendered valuable service until the state 
militia arrived from Chippewa Falls. 

As the work of rescue progressed, the estimated list of dead 
fell ffraduallv from several hundred to less than one hundred 



152 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

and tweuty-live. The continual surprise seemed to be the 
number who came through alive. It seems beyond belief the 
experience of some who still live. A majority of those in the 
district covered by the storm went into cellars. Some went 
because they saw their danger, but a greater number are un- 
able to tell why they went. They had never gone to a cellar 
in a storm before, but in this case the thought came so sud- 
denly that it was carried out and no analysis attempted until 
too late. 

As time moves on, the terrible experience of those concerned 
will be softened till it appears like a terrible nightmare of some 
distant dream, to be recalled whenever the weather conditions 
so order it. Another thing that will long be remembered by 
most of us is the prompt and thorough assistance we received. 
There has never been a time, and at present we doubt if there 
is another country, where the cries of distress are responded to 
as promptly and as thoroughly as at present in this country 
of ours. It indicates that the world is growing better, despite 
the prophecies of pessimists to the contrary. 

AID FROM FRATERNAL SOCIETIES. 

The members of the different civic societies did nobly in 
contributing to the aid of their suffering brothers. Every 
society represented in the city had aid from outside. Perhaps 
the Masonic order received the greatest amount, as each mem- 
ber of the order in the state was assessed $1, Avliich amoimted 
to between $10,000 and $12,000. This sum was apportioned 
among the cyclone sufferers of that order. 

The Eastern Star also contributed a sum to their incnibers. 
The Odd Fellows and Daughters of Rebekah gave a goodly 
sum, with which proceeds the Odd Follows purchased a hall. 
The Good Templars sent about $700, which was put in a hall. 
The Workmen and the Woodmen also remembered their af- 
flicted brothers. The Catholic Knights and Foresters gave 
liberally to the fund. The Knights of Pythias, Grand Army 
of the Eepublic, Medical Societies, Hotel Association. Omaha 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 153 

and Wisconsin Central employes and printers of the state con- 
tributed to their brethren. The difl'erent churches each re- 
ceived substantial aid, which was highly acceptable. 

ST. CROIX COUNTY INSANE ASYLUM. 

Wisconsin has two state insane asylums, one at Oshkosh, 
containing 600 patients; the other at Mendota, containing 500. 
There are twenty-seven additional insane hospitals in full oper- 
ation, and one in the course of erection. The other seventy 
coimties commit their insane to such county hospitals as are 
nearest them, and pay for their maintenance at each institu- 
tion the sum of $1.50 per capita per week. The state con- 
tributes to these hospitals a similar sum for each individual's 
care. The actual cost per capita for feeding, clothing, etc., in 
St. Croix County Insane Asylum, located near iSFew Richmond, 
was $1.28. 

The St. Croix County Insane Hospital, one of the model 
institutions of Wisconsin, is the latest addition to the number. 
It was built three years^ ago, upon one of the most commanding 
sites. The total expense w^as about $81,000. The farm is 
one-half mile wide and a mile and a half long. The main 
building cost $54,000. It can accommodate 14jO patients-. At 
present it has 78 males and 60 females. That the diagiiosis 
given by the experts is not always correct, is. proven by the 
fact that twelve patients w^ho were sent to the county hospital 
from the state institution as incurable are now out on parole, 
having recovered from their malady. All are reported doing 
well. Another fact that has been demonstrated is that pre- 
vious experience on the p^rt of the person assuming control 
of an insane asylum is not absolutely essential. When Mr. 
T. D. Wheeler and his wife, who is matron of the establish- 
ment, assumed control, they were without previous experience, 
but gifted with a good stock of common sense. They easily 
accommodated themselves to the best methods in vogue. They 
found it the best method to study the individual's preference 
for employment and of the utilization of it to the comfort and 



154 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



content of the patient. The major part of the work, both 
indoors and out upon the farm, is performed bj the patients, 
many of whom are under the natural delusion that thev own 
the place, and hence exert all their energies to make it suc- 
cessful. There are thirteen hired assistants who superintend 
affairs and who earn their salaries. 

The farm produces more vegetables and grain than the in- 
mates and the stock can consimie, hence is a source of profit. 




T. D. WHhtl.Ek. 



Among the products last year were 5,410 pounds of butter, 
all of which was eaten by the patients. The farm produced 
23,000 pounds of beef and pork last year, and almost wholly 
supported the inmates. Sugar and coffee are the two staples 
which it cannot grow. It has been proven that plenty of easily 
digested food contributes more than anything else to the re- 
covery of the insane, and hence in all the .state and county 
hospitals this essential element in reclaiming the wandering 
intellect receives careful attention. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 155 

There is no resident physician at the asylum, but Doctor F. 
S. Wade of New Richmond is under contract to visit the hos- 
pital and attend to all sick calls when his services are required. 
The health of the patients is almost uniformly good. As a 
precautionary measure, separate wards in both the men's and 
the women's wings of the building are set apart, which can be 
isolated in case any contagious disease should make its appear- 
ance. — Minneapolis Times. 

Supt, Wheeler and twelve inmates of the asylum came to 
town directly after the storm, and did heroic work in rescuing 
the dead and wounded. They remained in town nearly all 
night, and did a great deal of good in saving life and property. 
All work that awful night was doubly appreciated, and the 
injured will ever remember with life-long gratitude those who 
assisted them and extricated them from their perilous positions. 

NEW RICHMOND ROLLER MILLS. 

The large flour mill owned by the New Richmond Roller 
Mills Company was very badly damaged by the tornado. The 
managers, however, procured a large number of millwrights 
and were grinding flour again, as usual, within two weeks. 
We understand that every order on their books on June 12th 
was filled at this mill, their customers preferring to wait for 
the flour manufactured at this mill rather than have them filled 
at outside mills, although the management gave them that 
privilege. This speaks well for the product of the mill and 
shows what can be accomplished in a short time by energy and 
push. "Victory" and "Shakespeare" still hold the boards as 
the most popular flour in northern Wisconsin and Michigan. 

THE MAYOR OF NEW RICHMOND'S THANKS. 

"We wish most ardently to thank all who helped us in that 
disastrous time, June 12th, 1899. We thank the clergymen 
who ministered so faithfully to our dear ones the last sad, sol- 
emn rites; grateful to see how in that time of dire calamity 
no thought of creed or denominational line hindered their 



156 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

heroic efforts. We thank all who opened their homes, both 
here and elsewhere ; all who gave material aid, material shelter, 
clothing, food and house furnishings ; everyone who gave sym- 
pathy, love and prayers ; all hospitals whose doors were opened 
for Our wounded ; all physicians, surgeons and nurses ; everyone 
who furnished medicine and bandages or in any way tried to 
assuage sorrow and alleviate suffering. 

We thank all railroad officials who did so much for us, fur- 
nishing free transportation for people bringing needed help 
from abroad, succor in our calamity; the telegraph companies 
for delivering free all messages ; and all charitable and benevo- 
lent organizations that so generously sent goods and money; 
every order for the exemplification of their work by repre- 
sentatives and all benefits conferred ; great army of laborers 
for the toil, time and strength given; all the merchants who 
bestowed commodities with such lavishness. We thank that 
great number of good women who proved so serviceable in our 
urgent need ; those who did efficient work on Sunday commit- 
tees; the editors, reporters and entire newspaper staff of the 
various papers for disseminating the news. We know that we 
received much practical help because of notices of the storm 
in different publications. The express companies for deliv- 
ering all packages free ; the soldiers who came to guard prop- 
erty; our state officials for whatever help they gave. To our 
sister states who gave in such a munificent manner, we can 
only say that words are a poor medium through which to ex- 
press our heart-felt gratitude. 

THOMAS W. WEARS, 

Mayor. 

APPLE RIVER POWER COMPANY. 

In 1897 the Apple River Power Company was organized and 
an electrical power transmission plant erected by Dr. F. W. 
Epley, its president and general manager, since which time 
the whole of that magnificent power stream has been at 
the disposal of New Richmond industries. Power is devel- 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 157 

oped at Somerset, about eight miles west, brought to this city 
on three jSTo. 5 copper wires, and sold to manufacturers in 
quantities to suit, from one-eighth to five hundred horse-power, 
at rates only a trifle above, and in a form impossible to water 
power, inasmuch as the power circulates wherever a wire can 
be strung. The advantages of this power system place New 
Richmond in the front rank as a manufacturing center or city 
of beautiful modern homes. It enables the city to furnish 
electric lights to its people at rates actually less than kerosene 
light can be had, and the purest, most wholesome water from 
its wonderful artesian well. This well is drilled through a 
flinty rock and from an eight-inch hole furnishes 600 gallons 
per minute of pure artesian water, sufficiently soft for all house- 
hold purposes. The city owns and operates both light and 
water plants. 

PEOPLE'S TELEPHONE EXCHANGE COMPANY. 

On the first of November, 1898, the People's Telephone Ex- 
change Company opened a new exchange. This was totally 
destroyed on the 12th of June. It has been rebuilt by Dr. 
Epley, and was formally reopened on the 12th of November, 
just five months after its destruction, with seventy-five sub- 
scribers. This new exchange is modern in every respect, serv- 
ice continuous, night and day, and its business subscribers have 
free toll service to Hudson, Stillwater and Pierce county towns. 

ALL GIVE RELIEF. 

The one thing that gave courage to the disheartened people 
after the storm at first and made then think that there was 
something in life still worth living for was the prompt and 
generous manner in which the people generally rushed to the 
rescue. Within a few hours after the storm, relief came pour- 
ing in from Hudson, Stillwater and St. Paul. The citizens 
of Hammond, Hudson, Roberts, Baldwin, Stanton, and in fact 
all the neighboring towns, flocked into the ill-fated city and 
took off their coats and went to work. They dug among the 



158 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

ruins and rescued those who were still buried there; they gave 
of their means and everything at their disposal to relieve the 
sufferings of the wounded and comfort the distressed. 

Organized bodies of men were sent from Stillwater, Eau 
Claire, Chii3pewa Falls, St. Paul, Minneapolis and Menom- 
onie, fully equipped to take care of themselves, , and they did 
heroic work. The members of the Red Cross Society could be 
seen going about like angels of mercy, administering to the 
wants of the afflicted. The Chicago, St. Paul & Minneapolis 
Railway Company not only sent a gang of men to assist in 
cleaning up the debris, but placed their road at the disposal of 
the stricken city. This the Wisconsin Central people did also. 
The Western Union Telegraph Company tendered the free use 
of their line, as did the different express companies. Columns 
of space might be shown, telling of the generosity of the dif- 
ferent people and corporations above mentioned. Sufficient it 
is to say, however, that everybody appeared to be willing to do 
everything in his or her power, and spared neither themselves 
nor anything at their disposal in relieving the distress of the 
people. AVe tender all our grateful thanks. 

THE SCANDINAVIAN ELEMENT. 

The Scandinavian element nobly distinguished itself on the 
night of the storm, and days afterwards. They turned out to 
a man, coming over the river that night, remaining under the 
terrible torrents of rain, searching for the unfortunates and 
carrying them on their backs to a place of safety. 

Across the river, in the Third Ward, the majority of the 
ISTorwegians are located. They were spared in the tornado of 
June 12th,. 1899. They are characterized as an honest, peace- 
able and industrious people, preferring to gain their living by 
slow but sure means, knowing that "Honesty is the best policy," 
rather than plunging haphazard, according to the present busi- 
ness mode of the day. They showed on the night of the 12th of 
June and days following their quiet, gentle but firm character 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



159 



ill tlicir iiutiriiig work for the roliof of the wounded and im- 
prisoned in the debris. They cared little for the approbation 
of the lookers-on or of visitors. The kodak-; of the latter could 
but sketch the JSTorwcgians, stooping to a man, in their vigilant 
search among the ruins for suffering humanity. 

Yes, the Scandinavians worked like lici-oes. From disinter- 
ested i)arties I ascertained that at least rifty more victims of 
the cyclone might be added to the death list, were it not for the 
tinielv efforts of the Xorwecian contiiioenr. 




HO.N O. \V. MOSMEK 



160 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



A FEW OJ- TIM': I'KOMINENT CITIZENS OF 
NEW IIICIIMOND. 

HON. O. W. MOSHER, ASSEMBLYMAN FOR THE DISTRICT IX 
THE STATE LEGISLATURE. 

Mr. Mosher was ni)[)uiiit<'J ('liainiian of the Kclict" ( 'oin- 
mittee, and in that capacity has worked day ami night, ad- 
ministering affairs with keen jndgmcnt and cxecntive skill. 
At the present writing Mr. and ]\[rs. Mosher are traveling 
in the South. Later they will go to Enrope, and tak>' in the 
World's Fair at Paris before their return to New iiieliiiioud. 

MAYOR WEARS. 

Mr. Thomas Wears, Mayor of the city of New Richmond, 
has made a good, efficient magistrate. His term of office came 
under most trying circumstances. The terrible cyclone that 
wiped out the town must have greatly added to the perplexities 
of his position. Yet his strict honesty of pnrpose and moral 
integrity has earned for him the respect of all classes. 

F. W. BARTLETT. 

F. W. Bartlett is a retired bankt'r and one of New Rich- 
mond's most resi)ected citizens. Mr. Bartlett is a son of the 
famous "Father Bartlett," one of the pioneer residents of the 
place. The subject of this short sketch is a gentleman with 
whom it is a pleasure to converse; refined and rallier serious 
of manner, a student of history and well read, possessing all the 
characteristics of his English progenitors. The English 
branch of the Bartlett family still reside on the ancestral es- 
tate, and retain the title of baronet and knight, ranking with 
the nobility of the empire. The American branch of the fam- 
ily is more numerons in the Eastern states than those in the 
West. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 161 

The father of the subject of our present sketch came to the 
West, alone, in the early days, and settled down in New Rich- 
mond. There is, so far as I have learned, a peculiarity about 
the collateral branch of the family in this country. They are 
said to be so truly and thoroughly American that they ignore 
all claim to the titles and honors which the English branch 
still so proudly retain. 

Mr?. Bartlett (nee Miss Mary Stuart, of Pennsylvania), is 
quite a remarkable person. With an academic training, im- 
proved by long years of deep, intelligent reading, principally 
of the best literature and current events of the day, yet withal 
so amiable and unassuming that in consequence she is a general 
favorite with all classes. And a gentleman casually remarked 
to me after the cyclone : ''Mrs. Bartlett is the best woman in 
Richmond." Such was the sweeping assertion. Her fine char- 
acter showed itself in its true light on the fatal night of the 
disaster and days after in the kind, considerate treatment of 
the poor sufferers. 

That awful night Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett threw open the 
doors of their residence to their liomeless neighbors and wel- 
comed them in. And in they trooped, with their wet, soggy 
garments clinging around them, ruining the dainty Moquette 
carpets over which they passed. But no notice was taken of 
these lesser things on that fearful night. Humanity was suf- 
fering, bleeding. The elements outside were raging. Life 
and death seemed so closely allied, that all thought seemed 
banished but the awful present. In this juncture, the good 
people of the house gave all the aid that could possibly be 
given in such an emergency. The people suffering felt this 
when they sought shelter under the Bartlett roof. The writer 
was one of these, and can truthfully say that the kindness 
meted out to the sufferers on the night of the cyclone cannot 
be expressed. 

The Bartlett mansion Avas a partial ruin itself. The bay 
window on the west side was shattered, and the parlors, with 
their costly furnishings, suffered damage from storm and rain. 



162 TIIK \i:\V KU'llMOXl) CYCM.OXl']. 

I lie ciipiihi \v;is Mown oH llic ronl'; cli i iinicvs ulso; liciicc no 
\\;irni wnrcr. wliicli \\;is >o iiiucli iicctli'd to w.isli llic w uniKlcd. 

Tilt' r;iin came pourinu' llivouuli the ;!|>('rtiirc Ict'l li\- llic rc- 
ni(t\'al of till' cniiola. riic nonliwcsi wiiiii- was lilown otT ilio 
loundal ion, and ollior casnallics loo nnnici'on^ \<< niciilion. 

Ml'. I'.arllotrs loss in the tonnido was c-liniatoil al $l(>.n(l(). 

I lie I)artl('t1 ianiilv direct consists of the parents and two sons. 

Idle (ddt'T is a iiradnate (d* Vrineefon ( 'ollciic atter wliidi lie 
spent two Years in l''nro|ic in siud\- and tra\(d; tlicncc he l»e- 
camc^ a niini^tcr of ilic ( 'onerepitional ("Inircli. and ai |ircscnt 
writinii' has inenndienev at Princeton, where he is hteated. The 
vonnii'er son, n lad of se\'enteen years,, is slill ]>nrsnin>i his stud- 
ies at Princcion ( 'olleu'e. 

A MORAl. IXCIDENT OF 'llll': TOHXAIH). 

A curious feature which llie tornado seemed to eup'nder in 
the nunds of ijie sti'ickeii ones, and which dexcloped in a 
jieculiar fashion, hy the actions <\\' many persons, was the total 
disr(\<iard for the ownership of propert\. Many whose homes 
were at the disposal <d' their less fortunate neiiihhors had uiveu 
fre(d\" of tlu'ir lumsehold i^oods — such as dry chithiiii:, linen, 
etc. \'et the recipients, hy a Strang' ine<insistency, woidd ii'o 
into the \arious looms and help ihemsehcs. ( )f course, no 
i|Ue>tions were asked; no hindi'am-e \\a> made. It >eemed to 
he taken as a propei' course of e\-en1s. Dnt afterwards, when 
people relurne<l to their normal condition, those arti(des lor the 
most |)art were carefnlK and liratiduljy returned to the owners. 

From this we mii:hl infei' than when the mind i> lahorini^ 
untler some i:feat excitement with concent rat ixcne^.- ot pur- 
p<tse, as, for instance, to presei'X'e one's life ;ii ;dl hazards, to 
the <letriment ol' surroundiuiis, one can -carcely he htdd rc- 
s|ioiisilile for theii' exterioi' action-. 



THK NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 163 

ANDREW DENEEN. 

Ml'. Andrew I)('ii('('ii, (Hic of oiir iiioist suceesst'ul iiicrchaiits, 
iiari'owly escaped death by being covered by his counter, iindfer 
which lie sought refuge. His name appeared in the list of 
dead in the first issues, hut hiter was correcteih Mr. Deneen, 
wife aiul tive children, reside in their pretty home on the south 
side of the city. Tn the awful night of the 12th of June his 
home was spared, but his tine general store shared the fate of 
others. After the cyclone passed, his faithful wife rushed out 
in the raging storm, and by her superhuman efforts succeeded in 
rescuing her husband from the ])iles of debris heaped upon 
him. lie was badly injured, but at the present writing is 
doing business in his new store (built on the old site) the same 
as ever, to the heartfelt satisfaction of his many friends, with 
whom Mr. Deneen is a great social favorite. (Author. ) 

DR. FRANK EPILY. 

Dr. Frank Epily, ISTew Richmond, is no ordinary man. He 
has proved himself a zealous benefactor. He was instrumental 
in most of the enterprises (of which Xew Richmond can boast) 
for the improvement of our city. His exertions will be more 
fully ai>|)rcciatc(l when it is understood that his l>road, ad- 
vanced theories met with much opposition from his townsiuen. 
Yet, when tlTese "\"erv theories, put in ]iractic(', proved wonder- 
fully beneficial to the community at large, the people found 
that in Doctor Epily they possessed more than a skillful 
physician in their midst. He was a legislator of much mental 
ability. For instance, his energv and untirinii' perseverance 
brought to us the electric lia'ht ])lai!t referred to in another 
chapter; also the city water works. But more esnecially the 
Catholic community owes to Dr. Kpily their magnificent chime 
of bells, although the gentleman is not a member of their re- 
ligion. Dr. Epily's family consists of wife and tive children, 
two l)oys and three girls. 'J'lie older son is at present a student 



164 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

in a medical Tiniversity, and his amiable wife and daughters 
render most nsefnl service in varions acts of social benevolence. 

(Anthor.) 

MRS. J. BARRETT. 

Among the many ladies of jSTew Kichmofld who did mnch 
for the alleviation of suffering on the fatal night of June 12th 
was Mrs. John Barrett. This lady's home, on the corner of 
Third street, two blocks east of Main, where the tornado did its 
worst, did not escape the ravages of the storm. Yet it was par- 
tially habitable, and there crowds flocked in their distress. 
As they expected, they were received and welcomed by the 
good lady, who placed everything necessary at their disposal, 
making the homeless and wounded as comfortable as circum- 
stances would permit. 

Mrs. Barrett's family consists of a son and daughter. The 
latter was still a student in her last term at St. Joseph's 
Academy, St. Paul, when the cyclone struck the town of her 
birth. Her brother, John Barrett, was on Main street when 
the crash came. As a result, he sustained some serious bruises, 
but owing to youth and vitalit}^ he rapidly recovered. Yet his 
widowed mother was for many hours in a state of uncertainty 
regarding the fate of her only son. But Mrs. Barrett, the good 
Christian that she is, did not allow her intense anxiety to ap- 
pear, or interfere with her duty for the comfort and consola- 
tion of others. And finally, when her beloved son was brought 
home wounded and bleeding, she quietly divided her time wait- 
ing on him and the rest. Such is but one of the many speci- 
mens of our ISTew Richmond women in the hour of the most 
intense emergency. 

MR. T. H. MEATH. 

Erin Prairie possesses a hero among heroes in the person 
of Mr. T. H. Meath. This gentleman on the terrible night of 
June 12th, after the tornado did its worst in its deadly course, 
leaving mangled humanity prostrate amidst the horrors of the 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 165 

most intense suffering; this brave man, forgetful alike of self 
and other considerations, with one supreme thought uppermost, 
rushed to the rescue. There he worked, dragging out the im- 
prisoned victims from beneath the timbers on that deadly 
night. Suffice to say he was instrumental in saving and helping 
forty-eight persons, who otherwise might have perished niis- 
erably. It must be remembered that the exposure of the res- 
cuers was very riskful. The rain ])Oured down like a cloud- 
burst after the cyclone passed over. Every living creature 
was drenched in a few moments. Yet it did not extinguish 
the horrible fire which was gradually but surely seeking its 
victims beneath the combustible debris. Hence the superhu- 
man efforts of the brave rescuers, regardless of singed hair and 
eyebrows, a burned hand or foot. To them the rain was rather 
a blessing, though chilled through by the lowered temperature. 
But why proceed ? My pen is too feeble to indite such noble 
deeds as were performed by such men as T. H. Meath and 
others on that fatal night. They are surely recorded in 
Heaven. And in Heaven they will be adequately rewarded, 
where nothing is hidden or forgotten by the all-seeing eye of 
our Heavenly Father. 

MR. M. FRISK. 

]Mr. ^r. Frisk, president of the Bank of New Richmond, lost 
tAvo liouses bv the tornado. This gentleman resides in Mer- 
riam Park, St. Paul. His family at present consists of an 
amiable wife and four clever daughters. Mrs, Frisk is a 
sister of ]\Ir. Johnson of New Richmond. The latter gentle- 
man laments the loss of a promising son, Hjalmer Johnson, 
in the cyclone. Mr. Johnson's place of business was unfor- 
tunately in the direct path of the tornado, and there his son 
was killed June 12th, 1899. 

"TOO STRANGE NOT TO BE TRUE." 

\ most respectable elderly lady, far advanced in years, and 
always remarkable for her good common sense, had. a most 



166 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

]M'ciili:ii' cxpcriciicc ;intt'(|;iriiii: tlic (•;il:is(r()])lic. One <l;iy. 
while sun'(»uiRle<l liv her children nml <;r;iiKh'hihlreii. iiinl 
evcrvthing' going on ;is usual, uniliin;^ apiiarciitly to ntti-iict at- 
teutimi from the crdiuarv enurse (if e\-ents; suddenly the o]d 
lad\' heeame extremely exeitech exclaiming aloud that "a fearful 
storm was raging in their miiUt ; it was there; the roof was 
being taken over their heads; the house was in ruins." 'riien 
she would move away, drawing her skirts to one si<h', saying 
Mater was delnging the surroundings. Then again, reseating 
herself, tliongli still excited, began nnmipnlating her tingers. 
as if winding up silk on a spool, which she said she was doing. 
She a))j)ealed to the family, and seemetl much surpriseil that 
they did not see what sh<- di<l. When they endeavored to calm 
her, thinking on account of her great age she had fallen asleep 
and had had a had dream. But she was firm in hei' statement 
of what she saw, saying it was no di-eam, hut a reality. The 
sequel proved, though strange as it may appear, that the old 
hidy's statement or dream, if \<n\ will, was to transpire hut a 
few days later, exactly as she had told them. 

ANOTHER PECl'LIAR INCIDENT. 

A famil\- lixing n^ai- the llapti>t < 'hurcli, seeing the cyclone 
coming, made a.ll haste for the cellar. The entrance to the 
latter was huilt in the old fashioii'Ml way a ti-ap-d<ior with an 
iron rinu' suid< in the wood to raise it up. The family tle- 
scended, with the exception <d" oiie young lady, who, when ahuul 
to descend with them. I'emendiered something of value she 
prized highly, and (piickly pi-ocuring the object she was in 
search of. i'etui-iie(l to the cellar doer. This she fonnd shut 
down so tight that the raisino- (,f it hy the ring was luyond her 
strength to acconi|)lisli. She pulled and ])ulle(l, hut to no })nr- 
pose. it resisted all her elfoi-|s. .\t last the tornado was upon 
hei', sweeping the house away and. the young lady with it. Slie 
was later extricated from the ruins in an nnconscitnis state. 
But the strangest ]»art of the story is that she liad the iron ring 
of tlie tra])-door hi'udy gras|)ed in her hand. I'rom llie ahove 
fact, draw your own inferences. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



16 



MR. JOHN SAKRISON. 

.Mr. .Inliii Saki'ison of |)(ci- Park, a town on the Omaha, 
ah(.\it twelve miles n<ii-th of IJichnionil. Iliis gentleman was 
appointetl a memlx-i- of tlie I tiformatiuu ( 'ommittee, for the 
purpose of making careful record of the actual condition, past 
and present, of each famil\- that suffered los^ bj the cyclone, 
^^fr. Sakrison showed his good judgment and executive ability 
in the records \\-hicli he made, and gave licneral satisfaction all 
round. A brief sketch of this gentleman's home life might not 
be irrelex'aut liei'e. Mi'. Sakrison married Miss Lena Fink, 
cousin of ]\rr. II. W. Fink of Xew IJiclimond, a very amiable 
lady, much loved by her friends and neighl)oi-s. Two children, 
a bov and a girl, live to bless their home. 




Hon. O. H. I.ngram, E.\u Cl.\ire. 



168 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



DEER PAKK. 

Mr. T. A. Malum, general storekeeper of Deer Park, ^vas 
among the first from outside to come to the assistance of the 
stricken city of New Richmond. He kindly sought for those 
witli whom he was acquainted, and offered his assistance in the 
best possible manner. 

One gentleman, who had lost everything in the cyclone, and 
saved his life only by hair's breadth in his cellar, informed me 
"that after three days and nights of hard work in a desultory 
way for the afflicted of the town, he felt that a bath and change 
of linen would be an improvement to his personal comfort." 
But where and how M^as such a luxury to be obtained ? The 
cyclone ran away with his own supply of linen. Wliere was 
he to get more? ISTot a store was left in the fated city, and 
money he had none. Just then he thought of Deer Park, a 
town tAvelve miles distant, and good Mr. Malum. Putting his 
thought in execution, he boarded a train for the little town, 
and arrived safely at Mr. Malum's general store. Suffice to 
say, before he left his toilet was made and his personal appear- 
ance much improved. , "T Avas converted from a shabby cy- 
cloner into a fashionable dude." 

Mr. T. A. Malum rendered much valuable service in tliose 
cyclone days, not only to the sufferers in his vicinity, but to 
all who came within his reach. Thev.will not soon forget their 
kind benefactor, Mr. T. A. Malum of Deer Park. 



GRATEFUL THANKS TO GENERAL AND PARTICULAR BENE- 
FACTORS WHO HELPED THE SUFFERERS IN THE TORNADO 
OF JUNE 12TH, 1899. 

Kind benefactors, we thank you — we thank you in general 
and particular for all you have done for us ; for helping us to 
raise up once more from out the ashes of our stricken city. 
You all did so much for us — so very much, out of the gener- 
osity of your hearts, which was of such vast, material help in 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 169 

ouv hour of bitter need. Yet to our individual losses it seems 
but a ''drop in the bucket." Such it has proved to the writer 
of these few pages. Though for that drop she feels grateful. 
I will therefore take this occasion to render my special thanks 
to most particular benefactors of St. Paul. 

ST. PAUL COMMERCIAL CLUB. 

The first, most beneficial general benefactors, of whom the 
majority of ISTew Richmond sufferers cannot speak but with 
feelings of intense gratitude was that noble body of gentlemen, 
the St. Paul Commercial Club. In the effective efforts of this 
organization, the greatest amount of real assistance has been 
accomplished with the least amount of money. The executive 
ability, as shown throughout, by Mr. C. P. Stine, Mr. and Mrs. 
Beardsley, etc., are most noteworthy. Such a man as Mr. C. 
P. Stine is rare to find. This gentleman is by nature possessed 
of most generous and kindly impulses. With these gifts of 
the heart are combined a courtesy and thoughtfulness of man- 
ner which is irresistible, thus placing at once the recipient of 
favors at his ease, making the latter feel that he is rather con- 
ferring a favor by receiving, than the former by bestowing. 
Such is Secretary Stine of the St. Paul Commercial Club — well 
adapted for the position he occupies. His conferres showed 
their usual good sense and judgment in placing such a man in 
the capacity of secretary of this most essential and thorough 
organization — a bright example of the refinement and truly 
Christian civilization of our illustrious American people. 

MR. AND MRS. BEARDSLEY. 

Mr. and Mrs. Beardsley, co-workers of Mr. Stine of the 
Commercial Club in the cyclone days, deserve a special recogni- 
tion here for their faithful work in the cause of the sufferers. 
The delicacy and tact with which they executed their mission 
will not soon be forgotten by our people, especially those who 
had the happiness of their acquaintance. We trust to greet 
them under more favorable circumstances, and thank them for 
their disinterested kindness. 



170 THE NEW RICHMOND rV(M>ONE. 

MR. AND MRS. MEALEY. 

.Mr. Mcalcv is one of St. I'liuTs most successful drv goods 
mercliaiits — one wliose white liair tell-; the tale of close appli- 
cation to l)usiness and nnremittini>' assiduity to all its details. 
This <i'ent]('ni:ni. notwithstanding' a lifetime spent in the cares 
of l)usines> and duty, is still in h:ii'iic>>. 'riic subject of my 
pen, toii'ethei' with the co-o])erati(>n <d' lii> aniial>lc ami g'en- 
erous M'ife, did much in an nimstcntat i<ius l»nl effective manner 
in relieviiiii- the sntterers. i'he lady herselt took the train for 
Xew Kichnmnil when the news of the terril)le catastrophe was 
contifUKMl. Then. aft(U' viewini>' the dead at the ini[)rovised 
m(»ri>ue to see if her friends were not amon<2; the u})turned, 
silent faces, she renewed her search till she found them : hroti^'ht 
one of the ladies back with her to St. Panl, clothed and enter- 
taine(l her with every possible attention and kiiuliiess, knowing 
M-ell there was no requital in this sul)dunary sphere, for the 
j)i'cs(iit at least, for all the worldly possessions of her guest in 
Tiichmond were scattered to the four winds of licaven by the 
devastating cyclone. Such indi\iilmil knowledge of good 
hearts tempts one to enter mot-c into .Ictail and describe, as 
far as my feel)le ])en will ]»ei'mit, the inner life of such beau- 
tiful characters. But not here. This book is but a summary 
of the sad events of the cyclone. Sad, if you will. l)ut the 
writer did not make them so. She would gladly have written 
on a different theme — of prosperous, haj)py Xew iiichmond. 
instead <>i' recording the horrors of the death-dealing tormido 
of June li'th. 1S99. 

PROFESSOR AND MRS. SIEP. 

l*rofess(»r Siep of St. Paul, bookkeeper in the nlliees (d' 
the Xoi-thern Pacific, was another IxMud'actor whose miuK! was 
not recorded. lie and his clever, kind hearted wife did more 
real good than man\- whose names and their Hgures appeared in 
print. The |>rofessor is a university man of superioi' Mnropean 
scholarship — as linguist, luathematician, etc. — yet withal sim- 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 171 

]ilc ill his tastes, and a real friend of liuinanirv in every pos- 
sible way where his influence can extend. Happy in his home 
life, with his beautiful and promising young son, his amiable 
wife, and pleasant surroundings, Professor Siep is, compara- 
li\-cly speaking, a iiKist hai)])y man. 

MRS. STARKEY. 

]\lrs. Starkey, the efficient and attractive wife of Mr. Starkey 
of F;ui([uier street, St. Paul, gave liberally to the \e\v Kicli- 
jnond pe()i)le. 8h(» receives otir sincere thanks. 

DR. AND MRS. SPATES. 

Dr. P. W. Spates of St. Panl was among the first U> arrive 
in the desolated city, to tender his services for the relief of the 
sutl'erers. He sought old acquaintances, and was agreeably 
disappointed that he did not find them among the dead or 
wounded. The doctor remained all day, and gave substantial 
aid in the form of a donation, to be disposed of at the discretion 
of the recipients. 

Dr. and ^frs. Spates (the latter a very amiable lady; a mem- 
ber of the famous Schubert ( 'Inb, also an active worker in the 
church to which she belongs, and a general favorite with all) 
occupy a handsome residence, c(n-ner (y])rcss and Fau- 
<|iiier streets. Their two fine children are in every respect 
worthy of their parents. We hope to meet the good doctor 
under more favorable circumstances. 

DR. AND MRS. BINDER. 

Dr. George Binder of St. Panl was ;il>o early in the tield, to 
tcMider his services, and remained, ready for any emergency. 
Dr. Pinder, so well known on Davton's Pilnfl'. where he has 
])racticed for manv years, and where his patients are legion, 
is a ]»racti('al. energetic gentleman. His amiable, jittraetive 
wife is a great favorite with all wlio know her personally. She 
most thoughtful l--- befriended the sntferers of Xew Pichmoud, 
who will not <o:ni foi-oct liood Mrs. Hinder. 



172 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

MISS AKERS. 

Miss Akers of North street, St. Paul, is also grate- 
fully remembered for her substantial aid. We sympathize 
"with her in the recent loss of her esteemed father. 

MR. AND MRS. VARNEY. 

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Varney of Park Kapids, whose very great 
kindness will long be remembered. These good people, at the 
time of the catastrophe, resided for the summer in St. Paul, 
but returned to their pretty country home in Park Rapids, 
Minn., Avhere they will permanently reside, to the regret of 
many St. Paul friends, with M^hom they were always special 
favorites. The sterling qualities of this lady and her husband 
must be known to be appreciated. 



GIFT OF BOOKS FROM MRS. HUBBARD. 

The writer avails herself of the present to return thanks for 
two boxes of books — the thoughtful gift of Mrs. Anna Davis 
Hubbard, 93 Cambridge avenue, Macalester Park, St. Paul. 
This gift is highly prized, for the cyclone made a clean sweep 
of all libraries, both public and private, in ISTew Richmond, 
which happened to lie in its devastating progress. The writer, 
being one of the heaviest losers in this respect, has lost a well- 
stocked library, containing some rare works in the vernacular, 
and in also several foreign languages. The loss to the owner 
means a total privation, as it is imposible for many of these 
works to be replaced. Hence, the gift of books coming so soon 
after the loss under such circumstances must be a real Godsend,, 
and is duly appreciated. The donor, being a well-read lady 
herself, as well as possessing many other attractive accomplish- 
ments, has the advantage of residing in the midst of literary 
neighbors, the park being the site of Macalester College ; hence 
an appreciable refinement pervades the neighborhood. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 173 

The Hubbard family consists of the parents, and three of 
the sweetest, most attractive and prettiest young misses that one 
could meet with in any country. The eldest, not yet out of her 
teens, is of a gentle, modest, retiring nature, and, excuse me if I 
say so, as beautiful as a dream. Her accomplishmients are 
many. Among the latter cooking and housekeeping rank high. 
I had the pleasure of testing a specimen of her culinary 
ability at a luncheon tendered some esteemed friends and my- 
self, after the cyclone, and I assure you it was above the ordi- 
nary. This 3'oung lady, that evening, presented me with a 
painted porcelain plate, her own work, as a beginning, as she 
kindly termed it, for my new housekeeping. As you may 
imagine, I prize my gift. The other two misses are models 
after the same pattern, and most interesting little ladies. The 
Hubbard home has many rural attractions, besides the above 
referred to. With spacious grounds, shaded with beautiful 
trees, open-air exercise being the fashion, one's life here is a 
paradise. Then the attractions in the rear, or poultry yard. 
There were incubators, and hundreds of little chicks running 
about the yard, five splendid dogs, pet horses, and, to crown all, 
the funniest, human-like monkey, with the most pleasing mon- 
key expression on its humanish face I ever saw. The thought 
struck me, as I watched its pranks, could there be anything in 
the oft-reiterated Darwinian theory of the "Tost link ?" There 
was food for reflection. The lateness of the hour compelled us 
to withdraw from these attractions, and with reluctance we 
parted from our amiable friends and boarded the car for the 
city, thinking there were many pleasures in life, after all. 
But then, alas ! my thoughts reverted but too soon to the terrible 
scenes I had left behind in New Richmond, the mourning city. 
What a change! 



17-t THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



('OXCLl'SIOX. 

Ill clt.siiiii the •ilistorv (if tlic 'l"ni'ii;i(l(.,'" June 12tli, 1S!H,>, 
iheru ;ii'c niniiv ii,tci'c>i iiii; cxixTiciiccs I ;iiii obliged to omit, 
either tliroiit>li iioii-:ic([ii;iiiit;iii<-c wiih the piirties coiieerned, or 
iiiv inability, foi' olivicms reasons, to I'cacli lliciii, and lastly 
the ('X])erieuces of many coming in too late for elassitication and 
insei'tion. This state of things 1 sincerely regret; hut my 
time heing liniiled and neces>ai'il\' devoted to carcd'ul research, 
for I ha\'e Itd't nothing undone to obtain facts in every case. 
Sometimes information would be given by ])ersons more or 
less biased in .favor or against some particuhir pt-rsons or or- 
ganizations. Suffice to say, the testimony (d' these 1 imariably 
rejected, no matter how fascinating the recital woidd be to the 
majority of my readers. Thit Avheii 1 olttained assurances of 
such facts from sources on whom 1 could \-i'\\\ then I eagerly, 
took possession of them, es}H'ci;illy when the >ame facts came 
from a phirality of persons, who had nothing in common with 
each other; then I was apt to arrive at just conclusions regard- 
ing the matter in liand. Therefore, jn^t and trii(\ T trust, 
will be the recital of the awful events herein coniaiiieil. at least 
the pi'inci|)al events of the Avorkings of the cyclone, .lime 1:2th, 
lM>!t. ji may ])ossihly contain a few eri'ovs. which was iieyond 
my |tro\'ince to axcrl. l"i>r these, n\' coinx', I am ih'I respon- 
sible. ( 'oiise(|iiently, 1 hope my readers will be lenient towards 
me. wlii'n 1 l(dl iheiii I lia\(' written this book with the most 
scriipiilon> impartiality, ^ix'ing honor and credit l<> whom if 
was t\\U' : bringing to lii;|it for an example I^t other- to imi- 
tate many <d ihe amiable '|ii;dilie~ of disposition and character 
that I had indi vi<lnall\' remarkeil in persons whom oihers 
seenied not to obser\-e, some <<( whom are still blesseil with lite, 
whih- iiol a few are li'one l.i llieir etei'iial reward. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 175 

AX INTERESTING INCIDENT TOO GOOD TO LEAVE OUT— HE 
GAVE HIS ONLY DOLLAR— MINNEAPOLIS TRIBUNE. 

» 

■'Is the mayor iu?" asked a brigiit-lookiug little lad, as he 
stood on his tip-toes and looked over the desk at Miss Kriedt, 
the mayor's assistant secretary. 

"Xo, he is not in jnst now; do you want to sec; him per- 
sonally ^" 

''Yes, nm'am; I want to see him." 

"'Is it anything I conld do for you V 

"1 dou't know. I have a dollar that I have earned cleaning 
bicycles, and I want to give it to the ])oor people at !Xew Rich- 
mond, where the cyclone was." 

■'Well, yon are a good litle boy, indeed; and if yon think 
you would like to send the poor people your dollar, I will take 
it for you, and give it to the mayor." 

"Yes, nni'am." And the little eight-year-old handed the 
secretary his only dollar, the dollar ho had earned by cleaning- 
bicycles. 

''Is there nothing you would rather do with your money 
than to give it to the cyclone sufferers?" asked Miss Kriedt. 

"Xo, ma'am; I thought at first I would put it in the bank, 
and then I thought 1 would spend it, hut I decided it would 
be better U) send it to the poor people who liaveu't any homes." 

''And will you tell me youi- uaiue?" 

"Willie Scholtz." 

"And where do you live, Willie?" 
. "'I live at No. 2314 Xinth avenue south." 

Then the little fellow went out of the may<n'''s office without 
a ('(Mit of money, but his face looked radiantly happy. He 
liad coiitriKutcd his mite for the sake of those who are suffering. 
He felt tlic li;i|)|u'u('ss th:i1 always couies to him who performs 
a generous deed — those who do all they can for their fellow 
men. 

Such beautiful examples are suliicic nt to convert a sordid 
world. Tf oue eoidd follow the after career of Willie Scholtz 



176 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

it would seem a paradox if he did not become an extraordinarily 
good man, and make his mark in whatever sphere of life he 
may fill. It is refreshing to record such exemplary incidents 
in this advanced stage of acquisitiveness! 



A SYNOPSIS OF THE HISTORY OF NEW RICHMOND. 

In concluding my recital of the grewsome events contained 
in the first part of this work, I do not think it would be irrele- 
vant, for the benefit of my readers, to introduce a brief synopsis 
of the history of our city. The site chosen for the future city 
of iSTew Richmond was simply perfect, showing the good judg- 
ment of the pioneers in those first days ; a level country, thickly 
wooded Avith valuable and magnificent trees ; a never failing 
river of pure water, flowing through the town, affording alike 
benefits to the citizens as well as supplying water poAver for 
the running of a flour mill, a saw mill, etc; a rich farming 
country, wisely chosen by claimants of government grants, 
taken up by the earlier settlers of the country, and now under 
a high state of cultivation and a source of wealth. 

Thus the farmers in course of time could conuna)id high 
prices for their produce, especially during the good times, and 
as a natural consequence they became independent and could 
dictate their own terms. The next generation reaped the bene- 
fit of the harvest sown by their fathers, and so on. This state 
of things all told on tlio future of I^ew Richmond. It became 
the chief center for the farmers to bring in their grain and ship 
it by the railroads that passed through the place. Banks had 
already been established for the business convenience of the 
people. 

Then the genious of Hon. O. W. Mosher, assemblyman, built 
the first elevator in iSTew Richmond, wliich materially lessened 
the cost of transportation for the farmer, and proved advan- 
tageous to the grain merchant, Mr. O. W. Mosher being presi- 
dent of the Northwestern Grain Company. Mr. J. E. Glover, 
Jr., established a sawmill, employing a number of men during 
the summer season. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 177 

But other towns iu course of time sprang up around Now 
Richmond. If they were nearer the farmers did not hesitate 
to transfer their trade to them, to the detriment of the older 
town. And as the people sfrew wealthy, they preferred city 
wares and goods, for the Twin Cities were not far distant, and 
they had a better selection, etc. All these changes injured 
business in New Richmond. The few wealthy ones were in- 
different. They liked New Richmond for the beauty of its 
location; the magnificent trees; the calm serenity by which 
they were surrounded and said among themselves, "This 
is a lovely resident town ; we will abide here in 
quiet and rest. We will keep out those noisy factor- 
ies; they bring in such a rough element with them. 
We will have it also a prohibition town. It will 
save our young men," etc. Vain dreamers ! Accordingly, 
pretty homes were built. But the old adage, I think, will fit in 
well here, "Man proposes, but God disposes." Such it seemed 
in course of time of a few years. The sons and daughters of 
the medium class, as they finished school, were obliged to seek 
other towns and cities to obtain employment. These towns and 
cities were not prohobitionists. These towns and cities encour- 
aged factories and industries, hence the employment given. 
Cojitact with the "rough" element was unavoidable, but it 
would be less dangerous for the youth to mix with it under the 
watchful eyes of parents at home, and guarded by their sage 
advice, than away from the parental roof, among strangers. 
So it would have been to the advantage of the youth at home 
to have the industries in their town. 

But, again, this calm, beautiful New Richmond, this lovely 
resident town, was soon to meet with one of those visitations of 
nature which would almost instantaneously change the beauti- 
ful resident town into a chaotic district of horror. "Man pro- 
poses, but God disposes!" 

In conclusion, thus let us all take warning by the past; let 
us submit humbly to the will of our beneficent Redeemer, know- 
ing that nothing happens witliout His permission for our souls' 



178 THE NEW RICIIMOXD CYCLONE. 

greater iiuprovcineiit. It' the tonuulo uf June 12tb was sent 
for a punishment, then let us take it as such, and thaiik the 
Omnipotent Creator for sparing us here longer while others 
A\'ere taken away, whose lives seemed so indispensable, so gentle 
and kindly in their intercourse with others, shedding a halo of 
])eaee and gtxxl will amon^' brethren. For the latter it was a 
blessing in disguise. Their short moment of amazed agony was 
followed by joys that will ueA'er end. Row little we know of 
the mysterious ways of God ! But for us who were left our 
duly lies before us — to love God ami our neighbor as ourselves; 
to work out our own salvation in this land of exile, and calmly 
await the last call to a better life, where, in the words of St. 
Paul, '^F.yc hath not seen, nor ear hath not hoard, nor the heart 
of man cannot conceive the joys that await the blessed in 
Heaven." 



THE END. 



REPORT 



. . OF 



EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 



APPOINTED TO DISTRIBUTE FUNDS FOR RELIEF OF 
SUFFERERS BY THE 



Cyclone at New Richmond, 

WISCONSIN, 

AND IN ST. CROIX, POLK AND BARRON COUNTIES, 
• JUNE 12th, 1899. 



HONORABLE EDWARD SCOFIELD, 

GOVERNOR OF THE STATE, 
January 30, 1900. 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 181 



EXHIBIT A. 

SUMMARY OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS. 
RECEIPTS. 

Cash received from United States, except Minnesota and 

Wisconsin $4,752.55 

Casli received from Minnesota 49,854.18 

Cash received from Wisconsin 65,043.08 

Cash received from parties whose addresses are unknown. . 262.31 

Donations of lumber, brick, furniture, clothing and labor.. 16,547.70 

Licenses, and sales of meals and refreshments 946.31 

Total receipts $137,406.13 

DISBURSEMENTS. 

Cash aid given to 76 persons to rebuild dwellings. $32,376.91 

(Greatest amount given to any one person. . . $750.00) 

Cash aid given to 21 persons to repair dwellings. 2,52-2.59 

(Greatest amount given to any one person. . . 400.00) 

Cash aid given to 74 persons to refurnish dwell- 
ings 7,908.54 

(Greatest amount given to any one person. . . 300.00) 

Cash aid given to 41 persons and firms to rebuild 

stores 14,547.01 

(Greatest amount given to any one person. . . 700.00) 

Cash aid given to business men who did not own 

store buildings 16,447.66 

(Gi'eatest amount given to any one person.. 800.00) 

Cash aid given to 23 cripples 6,525.27 

(Greatest amount given to any one person. . . 850.00) 

Cash aid given to property losses in the country — 

To 47 persons in St. Croix county district. . . . 7,100.00 
(Greatest amount given to any one person. . . 600.00) 
To 78 persons in Polk and Barron county dis- 
tricts 4,535.00 

(Greatest amount given to any one person. . . 200.00) 

Temporary relief, provisions 4,558.18 

Temporary relief, shelter 758.55 

Temporary relief, repairs made by committee. . . . 2,201.24 

7,517.97 

Outfitting (stoves, furniture and clothing) 9,603.18 

Undertakers' bills 1,027.20 

Hospital and doctors' bills for 123 patients 3,665.54 

4,692.54 



182 THE N1<:\V lUCHAlOND CYCLONE. 

City of New Rioliinond — 

Bridge $1 .495.73 

Tower 2,430.59 

Power house 2.065.85 

City schoools 2,024.05 

Electric liglit 3,500.00 

Miscellaneous 340.92 

?n.857.H 

Clearing away debris 9.716.69 

Administration expense 1,544.80 

Balance on hand (to be paid to destitute parties 

and to cover expense of report) 510.83 

Total disbursements $137,406.13 



EXHIBIT B. 

STATEMENT OF CASH CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED BY THE 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE RELIEF OF 

CYCLONE SUFFERERS. 

PROM THE I'NITRD STATICS (KXCB^PT MINNESOTA AND WIS- 
CONSIN). 

CALIFORNIA. 

San Diego— S. H. Clough $10.00 

ILLINOIS. 

Chicago — Ben Bonsteht $3.00 

M. J. Carpenter 10.00 

Electric Appliance Co 5.00 

F. D. Fuller 25.00 

German-American Ins. Co 100.00 

N. W. Harris 100.00 

Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co 100.00 

Marshall, Field & Co 50.00 

National Fire Ins. Co 200.00 

W. J. Neahr & Co 5.00 

H. H. Porter 100.00 

Spaulding & Merrill 25.00 

Harriet Z. Weeks 1.00 

E. W. Wick ware 10.00 

C. H. Morse 500.00 

$1,234.00 

INDIANA. 

Indianapolis — E. A. Atkins $99.85 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 183 



IOWA. 

Ashton— Bank of Ashton $12.00 

Dubuque— W. H. Day 100.00 

Fayette— W. A. Hoyt 10.00 

Kenoitt — Chas. K. Lackerson 5.00 

Milford— C. Forstenson & Co 1.00 



MIC'HIGAX. 

Detroit — W. H. E. Emerson $5.00 

Ironwood — Andy Monahan 1.00 

Kalamazoo — Citizens $75.00 

Cliildren 2.00 

77.00 

Sturgeon River— H. J. Thenstan 4.00 

Ypsilanti— D. M. Summivan 30.00 



MISSOURI. 

Fulton — A. C. McManaway $1.00 

Nevada — Check 50.00 

St. Louis— H. F. McCune $5.00 

Grand Lodge Elks' Convention . . 500.00 

Post Dispatch 72.00 

577.00 



NORTH DAKOTA. 

Aldin — T. G. Pyal $1.00 

Church's Ferry— Citizens 106.50 

Fairmont — M. W. Ballard 5.00 

Fargo — City Council $500.00 

Citizens 509.00 

1.009.00 

Gilby — Modern Woodmen 3.00 

Grand Forks— J. W. Scott 5.00 

Oakes — Mrs. Nichols and others 2.25 

H. S. Nichols 1.50 

3.75 

Tov.-er City— Citizens 26.00 



$128.00 



$117.00 



$628.00 



MONTANA. 

Butte— Senator W. A. Clark $500.00 

NEW YORK 

Brooklyn— Oscar Pfeiffer $25.00 

Irvington — Helen M. Gould 250.00 

New York City — Cappell, Maitland Co 250.00 



$525.00 



$1,159.25 



184- THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

PENNSYLVANIA. ' 

Alleghany — W. J. Jameson $5.00 

Pittsburg— W. S. Kinnell 10.00 

Pittsfield— W. T. Dalrymple 25.00 

Philadelphia — Franklin Sugar Refining Co 25.00 

RHODE ISLAND. 

Newport — Sarah M. Pratt 

SOUTH DAKOTA. 

Brookings — Brookings Land & Trust Co $5.00 

Elkhorn— Citizens 20.60 

Sioux Falls — Citizens ' 84.85 

White Rock— N. N. Powell 10.00 

VERMONT. 
Barre — McMillan & Stephens 

WASHINGTON. 

Sprague — A friend 

WASHINGTON, D. C. 

Cash $10.00 

H. A. Taylor 100.00 

U. S. Treasury Department 30.00 

Total from United States (except Minn, and Wis.) .... 

CASH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM MINNESOTA. 

Alexandria — Citizens 

Austin — Citizens $68.00 

Dr. A. M. Lewis 10.00 

Benson — Citizens 

Blaine — Farmers 

Blue Earth City— D. S. Hall $100.00 

Ball game 64.75 



$65.00 



$20.00 



$120.45 



$5.00 



$1.00 



$140.00 



1,752.55 



$268.95 



78.00 

115.00 

10.75 



164.75 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 185 

Brainercl — Citizens $212.25 

Brownton— I. O. 0. F 10.50 

Cannon Falls— Citizens 91-00 

Chaska — Moravian congregation 17.02 

Cold Springs— Citizens 100.85 

Cordova— Wm. Mohler 13.00 

Cottage Grove — Citizens $114.65 

John Zech 2.00 



Duliith— M. N. Berg $2.00 

John G. Brown 25.00 

B. P. Crane 25.00 

Johnson & Moe 15.00 

Judge Moer 5.00 

Mrs. F. A. Pettibone : . . . 2.00 

Readers Skandinaven 4.03 

Readers Skandinaven 7.32 



116.65 



85.35 



Dundee— Camp M. W. A $5.00 

I. O. 0. F 5.00 

10.00 

Dodge Center — Citizens 45.45 

Echo— Citizens $53.25 

M. W. Harris 25.00 

78.25 

Fairfax — Citizens 36.05 

Fairmont — Citizens $16.00 

Citizens 35.00 

Science church 19.10 

70.10 

Faribault — Minnesota School for Feeble Minded.. 42.20 

Farmington — Citizens 176. #0 

Fergus Falls— Steve Buhler 5.00 

Frazer — State Bank 1.00 

Hamilton — Merryman Co 25.00 

Hancock — Citizens 25.75 

Harris— Ladies' Guild 25.00 

Hibbing — Village council 10.00 

Hutchinson— Citizens 100.00 

Kasota — Citizens 60.70 

Lake City— Citizens $150.00 

J. Manning 25.00 

175.00 

Lake Crystal — Maggie Wood 1.00 

Lakeport — Citizens 25.50 

Lamberton — Citizens ' $50.00 

German Lutheran church 16.75 

66.75 



186 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Le Roy — Citizens $39.75 

Le Siieur — Catholic church $9.00 

Citizens 130. Id 

139.10 

Litchfield— Mayor 100.00 

Little Falls— Citizens 200.00 

Luverne — Citizens 113.30 

Lyle — Citizens 41.75 

Madelia — Citizens 126.20 

Mankato — Citizens $4.00 

Directors National City Bank 33.00 

Fire Department 50.00 

87.00 

Mapleton — Citizens 92.22 

Marine — Citizens 48.00 

Melrose — Treasurer 50.00 

Merriam Park — C. F. Fitzgerald 1.00 

Minneapolis — A. H. Adams $2.00 

Base ball game 348.80 

N. H. Bell 1.00 

W. S. Benton 50.00 

Board of Trade 2,700.00 

Champlin Camp No. 10. W. of World 10.00 

Citizens 4,800.00 

Citizens 774.02 

C. A. Couch 1.00 

Crystal Lodge 28.85 

F. H. Davis 10.00 

W. T. Decker 5.00 

Elks' ball game 355.25 

First Unitarian Church 17.01 

Friend 1.00 

Abner Harkness 5.00 

A. C. Heck, Mgr 5.00 

W. C. Hullson 5.00 

International Food Co 25.00 

E. B. .Johnson . 2.00 

L. H. .Johnson 10.00 

.Jobbers 1,800.00 

.Journal 144.55 

.Journal and others 460.05 

Journal list 213.39 

Jjctter Carriers, Branch No. 9 42.50 

Lillibridge, Bremner Co 10.00 

Lumbermen 1,371.00 

C. M. McCoy 5.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



187 



Minneapolis — (Confd) : 

Minnesota State Band 

Miss. Valley Lumberman's list 

Minneapolis Plow Works 

Minneapolis Produce Exchange 

Mt. Sinai Com. Knights of Malta. . . . 

.1. B. Nelson 

N. W. Nat. Bank employes 

T. C. Paine, Agent Soo Line 

J. W. Pray 

W. A. Ramsey 

Retail Grocers' Association 

Royal Arcanum, Minnehaha Council. 

John J. Ross 

S. B. Sarles 

Caroline Sewell 

J. S. Sherrill 

R. AV. Schimmel 

J. L. Smith 

Armstrong Taylor 

Times lists 

Tribune lists 

H. A. Tuttle, Mgr 

C. P. Walton 

H. K. Weatherby 

C. E. Williams 

L. D. Williams 



Monticello — W. S. Demelle. . . . 

Morris — Citizens 

Mountain Lake — Frank Balzer 
J. D. Schroder 



New Auburn — G. A. R 

Samuel L. McNeil. 

New Paynesville — Citizens . 
Chons Lodge 



$448.1.^) 

.55.00 

10.00 

50.00 

25.00 

10.00 

40.00 

11.15 

3.00 

25.00 

50.00 

15.00 

1.00 

5.00 

5.90 

1.50 

5.00 

1.00 

10.00 

181.50 

231.28 

5.00 

10.00 

10.00 

2.00 

2.00 



$1.00 
1.00 

$10.00 
5.00 

$33.50 
12.10 



New Prague — Citizens $159.75 

Karl Bros 5.00 

New Prague Flouring Mill Co 50.00 



New Richland — P. 0. Sunde. 

New Ulm — B. H. Johnson. . . . 

Mayor 



$25.00 
200.00 



$14, 



415.90 

25.00 

159.31 



2.00 



15.00 



45.60 



214.75 
10.00 



225.00 



188 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

North Branch— H. Matthews $100.00 

Norwood — Citizens 42.75 

Owatonna — J. W. Crane 1.00 

Palmyra and Hector — Lutheran Churches 100.91 

Pennock — Swedish Mission Church 6.80 

Pipestone— G. W. Nash 17.00 

Plainview — Citizens 58.00 

Preneborg — Dutch Reform Church 32.25 

Red Wing— Citizens $564.00 

Geo. F. Cogl 10.00 

574.00 

Redwood Falls— Citizens 80.25 

Renville — Citizens 53.00 

Rochester — Base Ball Game $9.00 

Citizens 500.00 

M. Heffron 10.00 

519.00 

Rosemount — Citizens 00.00 

St. Charles— N. Kiefer 50.25 

St. Cloud— City Council $500.00 

Modern Woodmen 15.00 

Women's Auxilliarv 380.87 

895.87 



St. James— Citizens 200.00 

St. Paul— L. S. Armstrong $5.00 

O. O. Bergman & Co 15 00 

Francis B. Clarke 100.00 

Mary Collins .50 

Mrs. John Churchill .50 

City Council list 797.10 

City Comptroller's ]i?t 4 rfi'.;:! 

T. J. Edwards 10.00 

G. F. Gifford 10.00 

Grand Lodge I. O. O. F., St. Paul Conv. . . 100.00 

' James J. Hill 2,500.00 

Junior Pioneer Association 50.00 

Jobbers' Union — 

Abbott Bros $25.00 

J. M. Bach & Bro 10.00 

P. C. Bisbee 5.00 

Cash 1.50 

Employes of Gordon & Ferguson 10.50 

L. Epstein & Son 10.00 

Farwell, O., K. & Co 250.00 

Finch, Van S., Y. & Co 250.00 

Fonda & Peterson 10.00 

Foot, Schultz & Co 100.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 189 

St. Paul— Jobbers' Union (Cont'd) : 

Otto Gersting 5^.00 

C. Gotzian & Co 250.00 

Gordon & Ferguson 250.00 

J. W. Griggs 5.00 

J. H. Allen & Co 500.00 

Geo. Benz & Sons 100.00 

Brown, Treacy & Co 25.00 

W. J. Dyer & Bro 25.00 

Griggs, Cooper & Co 250.00 

C. R. Groff & Co 25.00 

Guiterman Bros 100.00 

P. R. L. Hardenburgh Co 50.00 

C. W. Hackett Hardware Co 100.00 

Hart & Murphy 10.00 

Kellogg, Johnson & Co 100.00 

Kerwin & Melady 25.00 

Koehler & Hinrichs 25.00 

W. H. Konantz 10.00 

Adolph Lando 5.00 

Lanpher, Finch & S 250.00 

Lindeke, Warner & S 250.00 

J. Mathies 5.00 

Nicols & Dean 100.00 

North Star Candy Factory 5.00 

Northwestern Lime Co 25.00 

Noyes Bros. & Cutler 250.00 

Ogden, Merrill & Greer 50.00 

L. P. Ordway 25.00 

McKibben & Co 100.00 

Powers Dry Goods Co 250.00 

Price & Bobbins 25.00 

J. H. Roach & Co 15.00 

Ryan Drug Co 10.00 

St. Paul Lime & Cement Co 5.00 

St. Paul Rubber Co 25.00 

St. Paul Stove Works 40.00 

Seabury & Co 100.00 

G. Sommers & Co 100.00 

Sternberg & Gottschall 25.00 

Scheffer & Rossum 50.00 

Tarbox, Schlick & Co 50.00 

Towle Syrup Co 25.00 

S. Weise & Co 10.00 

Western Land Co 25.00 

M. C. Tuttle 5.00 



190 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

St. Paul — .lohher.s" Union (Cont'd): 

Western Supply Co $25.00 

Union Mattress Co 25.00 

L. L. May & Co 10.00 

Wm. McMurray & Co 50.00 

McCormick, Behnke & Co 50.00 

H. G. Neal 50.00 

$4,517.00 

Mannheimer Bros 100.00 

Omaha Railway 3,743.37 

Pioneer Press list 6,402.67 

Red Cross Society 306.85 

D. C. Shepard 1,000.00 

Standard Oil Co 100.00 

P. Stoltz .50 

Teachers 239.25 

Teachers' Association 12.00 

G. S. Wieseman 10.00 

Thos. Wilson 50.00 

H. M. Youmans 2.00 



St. Peter— Citizens $243.75 

.James Mason 1.50 

Royal Arch Masons 25.00 



$24,771.47 



270.25 

St. Thomas— Catholic Church 10.00 

Slayton— B. Weed 10.00 

Sleepy Eye — Citizens 100.00 

Stillwater— Relief Fund: 

Main and Water streets north of 

Chestnut $463.25 

Main and Water streets south of 

Chestnut 364.50 

West of Main street 259.35 

Wm. Sauntry 300.00 

Wm. Sauntry rafting employes. . . . 85.75 

St. Croix Lumber Co 150.00 

St. Croix Lumber Co. employes... 223.00 

East Side Lumber Co 100.00 

E. Side Lbr. Co. officers and emp. 184.75 

R. W. Turnbull & Son 100.00 

R. W. Turnbull & Son employes... 175.00 

St. Croix Boom Co. employes 264.60 

Hersey Lumber Co 50.00 

Hersey Lumber Co. employes.... 95.75 

First National Bank 100.00 

First Nat. Bank, officers and emp. 35.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 191 

Stillwater— Relief Fund (Cont'd): 

Minnesota Moicantile Co $1UU.0U 

Minn. Mectl. Co. officers and emp. . 20.00 

Staples-AUee Mill Co 35.00 

Staples-Allee Mill Co. employes... 61.25 

Stillwater Mfg. Co 35.00 

Stillwater Mfg. Co. employes 39.50 

Hersey & Bean, office 80.00 

State Prison, officers and guards 64.00 
Minn. Thr. Mfg. Co., officers and 

employes 61.00 

Lumbermen's National Bank 50.00 

Lumbermen's Nat'l Bank emp... 10.00 

Court House 30.00 

Gazette's list 64.00 

Mosier's list .' 32.00 

Never's dam employes 25.50 

Oak Park 26.10 

South Stillwater 26.90 

Ladies' Social Circle 25.00 

Stillwater Red Cross Aid 10.00 

American Express Co. (rebate).. 5.00 

Unclassified 80.50 

Proceeds of entertainments: 

The Grecian Princess 222.90 

Epworth League 55.00 

O'Donnell Orchestra 45.00 

Red Rose and Tiger Lily 17.05 

Festival, Miss McRae and others 11.50 

Catholic Order Foresters 25.00 

Modern Woodmen 25.00 

Odd Fellows 25.00 

Baptist Church 20.00 

J. G. Brown 25.00 

Total cash contributions. .. .$4,303.15 
Deduct cash paid for labor, lum- 
V)er and supplies for New Rich- 
mond (See Exhibit "C") 2,104.14 

$2,199.01 

Relief fund, additional 140.32 

Samuel McClure 50.00 

$2,389.33 

South Stillwater — Ind. Order of Foresters 10.00 

Taylor's Falls— T. K. Shandard $10.00 

Smith Ellison 100.00 

110.00 



192 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 



Ulm— C. Paulsen 

Villard — Citizens 

Wabasha — Walmsha Roller Mills Co 

Wadena — Citizens 

Wasioga, Town — Citizens 

Waterville — Modern Woodmen 

Wells — Business men $60.50 

Citizens 2.00 

West Concord — E. A. Bardon 

Windom— Citizens $22.10 

Figi Club 58.00 

John Hubbard 5.00 

D. N. Weed 5.00 

Winona — Winona Lumber Co $50.00 

Empire Lumber Co 150.00 

Laird, Norton & Co 100.00 

Winnebago City — Star Light & Rebekah Lodge. . . . 
Worthington — Citizens 

Total cash contributions from Minnesota.... 



$30.00 
76.00 
50.00 

125.75 

25.00 

5.00 



G2.50 
1.00 



90.10 



300.00 

60.00 

153.00 

$49,854.18 



CASH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM WISCONSIN. 

Akan. Town — Citizens 

Almond — F. .1. Frost and neighbors " 

Alden— Citizens 

AUentown — Citizens 

Alma Center^ — A farmer 

Altoona — Citizens 

Amboy — Citizens 

Amery — Village of 

Amherst — Citizens 

Antigo — Citizens 

Appleton — Citizens $780.00 

A. W. Patten 200.00 

A. .J. Pederson 1 0.00 

.1. Ryan 2.50 

Arcadia — Business Men's Association $35.00 

M. P. Massuel 1 0.00 

.las. Wedland 1.00 



$18.70 

27.00 

13.00 

17.00 

11.25 

38.00 

50.00 

300.00 

110.75 

145.50 



992.50 



4r>.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 193 

Arkansaw — Citizens $30.00 

Armstrong Creek — P. Shay 5.00 

Ashland— T. Bardon and others $600.00 

D. E. Richter, collection on Ry. Ex. train. 50.30 

650.30 

Ashland Junction 3.25 

Athens— Citizens 60.00 

Augusta — Citizens 286.60 

Baldwin— Citizens $205.50 

J. Norman 2.00 

207.50 

Balsam Lake — Citizens 56.00 

Baraboo— Citizens $327.35 

Commercial club 20.00 

Employes C. & N. W. Ry. shops 21.50 

368.85 

Baraboo— Town 18.35 

Barron— Citizens $100.00 

Ladies' Mite Society 25.00 

125.00 



Bayfield— Order Eastern Star 55.00 

Isaac H. Wing 500.00 

555.00 

Beaver Dam — Citizens 200.00 

Beloit — Citizens $205.00 

Rosenblatt & Son 10.00 

215.00 

Berlin— Citizens 226.50 

Beuna Vista, Town — Citizens 89.90 

Birnamwood — H. Kuckuck $2.00 

Van Doren & Andrews. 10.00 

. • — 12.00 

Black River Falls — Citizens 261.00 

Bioom. Township — Citizens 54.30 

Bloomer— Citizens 53.25 

Boanlman — Mrs. .Jane Cashman $0.50 

Lincoln Henry 1.00 

1.50 



Borth— A. Borth 13.00 

Boscobel — Citizens 40.00 

Boyceville — Wm. G. Morley 16.31 

Boyd — Citizens of 128.20 

Bristol — Citizens 15.00 

Broadhead— City of 67.50 

Brookfield — Methodist Episcopal Church 6.00 

Brothertown — Citizens 5.00 

Burkhardt — Citizens 73.00 



194 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Butternut — Paul Kanieberg $43.00 

Cadot— Harper & Uehough 3.90 

Cady, Town— Citizens 39.28 

Calamus, Township — Citizens o9.4o 

Cambria — Citizens 95.00 

Carrollton — Fred Hassick 10.00 

Cascade — Citizens 15.86 

Cedar Falls— Subscription 50.30 

Cedar Grove — Citizens 100.00 

Centraila — I.,adies' Aid Society 10.00 

Chilton — Citizens $107.00 

Base ball 158.20 

265.20 

Chippewa Falls — Rev. K. Behrends $16.50 

Citizens 890.74 

A. B. McDonald 246.85 

R. D. Marshall 25.00 

1,179.09 

Clark County— A. Shaver 1.00 

Clintonville— T. T. Tolkin 168.52 

Cylman, Township — Citizens 32.25 

Colby — Citizens $67.11 

Relief Corps 10.00 

77.11 

Cold Spring, Township — Citizens 65.10 

Colfax— O. G. Kinney 102.00 

Columbia — Welsh Church 6.50 

Columbus — Citizens !f1.(i(t 

O. Sanderson 1.00 



Cumberland— Citizens $648.22 

Andrew Stall and others 29.00 



101.0* 



677.22 



Cylon — Sidney Hawksford $1.00 

T. .1. Lee 5.00 

6.00 

Dane County — Citizens 139.58 

Darlington— Citizens 102.00 

Dayton — Citizens 31.85 

Deerfield — Citizens 89.85 

Deer Park— Otto Neitge $1.00 

Ed. Sakrison 10.00 

.John Sakrison 10.00 

21.00 

DePere— Titzlaff & Co 2.50 

Downing— A. H. McCabe $10.00 

.1. E. Trigg 5.00 

$15.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 195 

Douglas — Presbyterian Church $6.56 

Durand — Citizens 275.50 

Eau Claire — Olive Allen $1.00 

A. A. Cutter 25.00 

Citizens $843.45 

Red Cross Society 264.00 

$1,107.45 
(Deduct cash paid for supplies and 
labor for New Richmond, see 

Exhibit "C") 437.74 

669.71 

Eau Claire Light & Power Co 25.00 

Elks 50.00 

Fourth of July Boxes 6.23 

Albert Gunderson 5.00 

0. H. Ingram 500.00 

C. W. Lockwood 25.00 

Mrs. Mary Carson McGrath 100.00 

Alex. Meggett lO.OO 

Wm. J. Starr 25.00 

G. Walker 5.00 

L. L. Williams 33.00 

— 1,479.94 

Eau Galle— Citizens 2.75 

Edgerton — Citizens 156.00 

Elba— Citizens 30.00 

Elk Grove— District No. 8 13.00 

Elkhorn — Citizens 213.50 

Ellsworth— Citizens $128.25 

A. Combacker 25.00 

153.25 

Elroy — Citizens 102.85 

Erin — D. Reddin and others 210.55 

Fairfield, Town — Citizens 29.80 

Fall River — Camp Royal Neighbors $10.00 

Columbia Camp, M. W. A 20.00 

Citizens 23.00 

53.00 

Fennimore — H. H. Earl 1.00 

Fond du Lac — Citizens $150.25 

Mayor 217.00 



Fort Atkinson — Citizens $131.25 

German M. E. Church 5*00 



367.25 



136.25 



196 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Fountain City — Gate receipts $3.70 

Fox Lake— D. J. Hotchkiss list 118.00 

J. L. Townsend 10.00 



28.00 

Fox Lake. Town — Citizens 8.88 

Freedom, Town — Citizens 37.45 

Freeman, Village — Citizens 6.50 

Galesville— Citizens 85.25 

Glen Haven — Citizens 19.00 

Glenwood — Citizens 211.95 

Gotham — Citizens 41.75 

Grand Rapids — Mayor 63.00 

Grantsburg — Citizens 77.25 

Green Bay — Citizens $194.00 

Employes Green Bay & W. Ry 108.50 

Geo. J. Greene 50.00 

G. Kustermann 5.00 

— 357.50 

Green County — County Board 500.00 

Hammond— Village $400.00 

L. W. Gilbert 1.00 

L. O. Hanson 1.00 



Hartford— Citizens $150.75 

German Lutheran Church 5.00 



402.00 



155.75 



Hartland— Citizens $27.50 

Spaulding picnic 15.00 

Sunday School 3.04 

45.54 

Hayward — Citizens 552.30 

Helvetia— J. H. Leuthold 5.00 

Herman — Citizens 72.75 

Hersey — Women's Relief Corps 11.45 

Hilbert— Mary McMullen 100 

Holland — Citizens 79.66 

Hope, Township — Citizens 26.00 

Hortonville— C. H. Baake 32.30 

Hudson— J. R. Agnew $10.00 

L. Ainsley 10.00 

O. W. Arnquist 25.00 

H. C. Baker 50.00 

Chas. Bradley 10.00 

N. C. Bradley 15.00 

W. J. Baxter 15.00 

Allen Beggs 10.00 

Samuel Beggs 5.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 197 

Hudson — I Conid » : 

G. W. Bell $15.00 

P. Q. Boyden 10.00 

Bunker Picture Fund 11.00 

S. W. Campbell 100.00 

F. J. Carr. Vefnle Mac excursion 9.10 

.T. A. Chinnock 5.00 

J. E. Corbally 5.00 

H. Cuddebach and others 10.00 

Mrs. E. A. Egbert 5.00 

Mrs. Isaac Flett 5.00 

J. A. Frear 25.00 

E. E. Getchell 10.00 

L. G. Greene 10.00 

Jas. Haddow 5.00 

W. A. Hall 10.00 

D. E. Hanna 5.00 

E. W. Helms 50.00 

Henry Hemzel 2.00 

E. B. Heritage 5.00 

John Hodgins 2.00 

D. Hoffman 9-63 

C. E. Holden 3.72 

0. W. Holmes 2.00 

Z. G. Holmes and pupils 70.55 

D. Humbird 50.00 

H. L. Humphrey 50.00 

H. K. Huntoon 10.00 

A. E. Jefferson 100.00 

Jerome B. Jones 15.00 

Mrs. Kastor -75 

M. Kelly 3.00 

Peter Knaft 2.00 

M. Knapp 3.00 

Geo. Martin 25.00 

E. F. Oliver 100 

Louis Ostby 5.00 

C. W. Porter 100.00 

Rebekah Lodge 42.60 

C. A. Sampson 5.00 

Carrie Silliman 5.00 

W. H. Thorn 3.12 

Jas. Walker 20.00 

Wm. Whewill 5.00 

L. C. Wilcox 2.00 



198 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Hudson — (Cont'd » : 

J. H. Winginder $5.00 

W. C. T. U 25.00 

Chas. Young 5.00 

T. F. Young 1 5.00 

Pauline Yoerg .' 25.00 

City of Hudson 16.25 

$1,073.72 

Hurley — Citizens 105.75 

Independence — Base ball $45.00 

Citizens 21.73 

66.73 

Ida— Citizens 19.15 

Iron River— Citizens $75.00 

Employes Lea-Ingram Lumber Co 109.19 

184.19 

Janesville — Citizens $95.60 

C. P. Jacobs 2.00 

Mayor 138.00 

235.60 

Jefferson — Citizens 265.40 

Jefferson County — County Supervisors 1.252.45 

Jensen — Welling Bros 1.00 

Johnson's Creek— Y. P. S. C. E 7.50 

Juneau— Base ball $189.00 

Citizens 65.25 

Chas. Christiansen 5.00 

258.25 

Kaukauna — Citizens 115.25 

Kendall — Citizens 57.65 

Kenosha — Evening News $60.00 

News Fund 517.25 

577.25 

Kiel— Citizens 50.00 

Kinnickinnic — Ladies' Aid Society 24.30 

Knapp— Citizens 126.19 

La Crosse — Citizens $465.00 

Deaf and Duml) School 15.75 

Mayor 800.00 

Mary B. Quigley 5.00 

1.285.75 



La Crosse County — County Hoard 500.00 

La Fayette, Town — Citizens 2.25 

La Fayette County — School distiicts 798.57 

Lake Geneva — Citizens 103.50 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 199 

Lancaster— Citizens $272.35 

La Valle— Citizens $100 

Klett 100 

^ 2.00 

Lebanon, Town — Citizens 128.65 

Leeds— Congregational Church 32;00 

Lenovia — Epworth League -^^ 

Lima, Town — Citizens 25.25 

Little Falls— Citizens $28.50 

O.S.Lee 1-00 „„ ^^ 

29.50 

Lodi— Mrs. P. Richards 2.00 

Lincoln, Town— P. N. Christianson, Chairman 100 

Lomira, Town — Citizens 92.72 

Lone Rock — Village .• 8.25 

Lowell, Village — Citizens 13.75 

Lusk— Citizens 91-00 

Madison — American Thresherman $25.00 

Base ball game 126.90 

C. V. Bardeen : 10.00 

C. Bliss 100 

Citizens 1,473.27 ' 

Governor Scofleld 100.00 

City Council 200.00 

Judge E. Dodge 25.00 

1,961.17 

Magnate, Rock County— Citizens 27.40 

Maiden Rock — Beverly White 5.00 

Manitowoc — Citizens 308.10 

Marinette — Citizens $76.00 

Collected by Chief of Police 65.50 

Columbia Hive No. 4 14.37 

Chas. Gerhauser 1.00 

S. Goodman 2.00 

Theo. H. Hebbeck Co 50.00 

Laureman Bros 76.63 

Merryman & Co 135.00 

• Menomonie Boom Co 300.00 

A. P. Scheldt & Bro 10.00 

Arthur B. Toan 2.00 



732.50 

Marshall and Medina — Citizens 92.00 

Marshfield— Citizens $215.00 

Louis Larrule 35.98 

Woman's Order Foresters 10.00 

260.98 



200 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Martell— Citizens $48.15 

Mason — Citizens 250.50 

Mauston— City $100.00 

Relief fund 44.55 

144.55 

Mayville — Citizens $159.38 

Turnverein (j4.00 

203.38 

Medford — Citizens 189.50 

Menasha — Citizens $233.75 

Jos. L. Fieweger 10.00 

E. D. Smith 100.00 

343.75 

Mellen — Citizens 57.25 

Menomonie — Citizens $1,000.00 

Citizens 360.44 

A. R. Hall 25.00 

1,385.44 

Menomonie Falls — D. J. Droigkamp 21.87 

Merrill — Citizens 216.75 

Milwaukee — F. F. Adams Tobacco Co $100.00 

C. P. Bacon 50.00 

Ball game and contributions 3,276.54 

W. J. Boyle's List — 

Benice Aarons $0.25 

Academy of Music 75.95 

Geo. W. Atwell 5.00 

A. Leo Auger 5.00 

Miss Blanche Bates 347.05 

Bay View, Battle Cong 33.75 

C. E. Benedict 10.00 

Mrs. L. V\ . Boyer 5.00 

Brewers' Association 500.00 

Builders' and T. Exchange 81.50 

Burdick & Allen 10.00 

A. Burnham 1.00 

Caldwell Young Peo. Soc 13.00 

H. H. Camp 25.00 

J. Cargill Bros 2.00 

A. Carlsrud 1.00 

Cash from various parties 40.50 

D. W. Chipman 5.00 

Clerks and carriers A. B. & C. . 65.25 
Collections from W. J. Boyle and 

friends 30.80 

H. Cordes 5.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 201 

Milwaukee— W. J. Boyle's List (Cont'd) : 

F. W. Craig $5.00 

Jno. F. Cramer 25.00 

Nye Crossman 1-00 

Chas. Damnling 1-00 

J. S. Davis 2.00 

Jos. Desert Lumber Co , . . . 50.00 

Dever Bros. & Co " 10.00 

Edw. Dewey ^-OO 

Druggist Picnic 24.28 

Rev. P. H. Durnin 5.00 

H. Endris 5.00 

W. S. E. & S. E. E 6.00 

Wm. Fizett 16.00 

Rev. Thos. Fagan 35.00 

Foster Lumber Co 25.00 

Ger. B'op Church S. School 10.00 

Ger. Evan. Church, 13th and 

Chestnut streets 20.00 

Grace Pres. Church S. S 3.00 

C. H 5.00 

Herman Heyn 1000 

Mrs. Hodgson 5.00 

L. C. Holton 5.00 

Horicon, D. C. Van Brunt 146.00 

J. Huennekins 100 

L O. 0. F. No. 296 10.00 

Isaac Lodge, I. 0. B. B 10.00 

Iroquois Club 80.00 

Joys Bros. & Co 25.00 

Gen. Chas. King 10.00 

W. G. King 5.00 

Thos. Koeechner 5.00 

August Kressen 5.00 

Wenner Kroeger 5.00 

F. E. Krueger 10.00 

Rev. A. J. Kuchin 5.00 

Ladies of Ivanhoe 10.00 

Lemonade stand, 27th & Cedar.. 3.25 

B. Leidersdorf 10.00 

Walter E. Lewis 25.00 

Little girl 50 

Mrs. E. B. Ludington 5.00 

John D. McLeod 5.00 

F. C. Manchette 10.00 

Wm. Marks 5.00 



202 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Milwaukee — W. J. Boyle's List (Cont'd): 

Mathews Bros $1U.00 

R. C. Meddaugh 2.00 

Mrs. E. Meyer 5.00 

Milwaukee Turnverein 10.2.5 

Chas. Milzer 5.00 

G. Stanley Mitchell 10.00 

Geo. W. Mitchell 10.00 

Model Laundry 5.00 

Mutual Benefit Society 5.00 

Master Walter Nathan 2.00 

Mrs. E. G. Neiaham and family. 50.00 

News Publishing Co 15.00 

J. S. Norris 5.00 

W. P. O'Connor 2.00 

Hon. Otjen 10.00 

R. Painter 10.00 

G. Patek 5.00 

Pawling & H 25.00 

People's Tailor Co 10.00 

H. M. Pillshury 15.00 

Miss Ella A. Pinch 2.00 

Plainfield Village, by President. 73.00 

John Pritzlaff Hardware Co 50.00 

Prospect Hill Dramatic Club. . . . 5.00 

Jeremiah Quinn 10.00 

Railway Branch, Y. M. C. A 14.00 

F. Reitbrock 10.00 

J. H. Rogers, Madison 5.00 

Roundy-Peckham 25.00 

Jos. Rudolph 1.00 

Thos. Rutledge 5.00 

Saturday Evening Club 25.00 

Ed. Schuster 15.00 

A. G. Sexton 5.00 

Geo. Shrine 5.00 

W. H. Simpson 5.00 

Mrs. Saul Smith 5.00 

C. P. Spooner 10.00 

Hon. John C. Spooner 150.00 

H. G. Stary 10.00 

Wra. Steinmeyer Co 25.00 

Herman Stern 20.00 

Students and Teachers Spen- 

cerian College 16.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 203 

Milwaukee — W. J. Boyle's List (Cont'd): 

Mrs. F. C. Suits $2.00 

Albert Trostel & Sons 25.00 

Mrs. Anna M. Tweedy 20.00 

J. G. Wagner 25.00 

C. Wahl 10.00 

J. Willmer 1 0.00 

Weisel & Co 10.00 

West Star Council W. A. P. A.. 5.00 

John Whaling . . ! 10.00 

Whitnal & Rademaker Co 25.00 

J. L. Williams 1.00 

Williams Bros 10.00 

Wisconsin Telephone Co 1,000.00 

J. E. Wright 5.00 

Arthur Young 15.00 

Grace A. Young 5.00 

A. Zoller 5.00 

General Zwietusch 5.00 

Chamber of Commerce List— 

Geo. H. Ackerman 5.00 

American Malting Co 25.00 

M. H. Anderson 1.00 

J. Arocena & Co 5.00 

Anton Asmuth 10.00 

E. P. Bacon • 25.00 

Edw. Barber 5.00 

H. C. Barnard 10.00 

L. Bartlett & Son 25.00 

Baumann Bros 5.00 

Carl Baumann 10.00 

Bell Commission Co 10.00 

Berger, Crittenden Co 25.00 

G. A. Bergland 1 0.00 

John Black 25.00 

W. E. Black 5.00 

Wm. Bothe 2.00 

E. H. fiottum 15.00 

W. J. Boyle 25.00 

John Buerger 25.00 

J. F. Burnham 5.00 

E. A. Butterworth 1.00 

J. W. Bradley 25.00 

D. M. Brigham 5.00 

Brockway & Son 20.00 



204. THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Milwaukee — Chamber of Commerce List (Cont'd) : 

Henry Broeg $5.00 , 

J. A. Bryden 5.00 

W. E. Carter 10.00 

Alfred L. Cary 10.00 

Cash 15.00 

Central Grain & Stock Co 5.00 

G. W. Chandler 10.00 

Chapin & Co 10.00 

C. M. Cottrill 20.00 

S. G. Courteen 10.00 

Cudahy Bros. Co 25.00 

W. T. Diirand 5.00 

Robert Eliot 25.00 

R. P. Fitzgerald 10.00 

VV. E. Fitzgerald 10.00 

Jas. G. Flanders 15.00 

A. Flentzheim 5.00 

John Foley, Jr 5.00 

Mrs. Jane Follinsbee 5.00 

C. E. Freeman 5.00 

A friend 5.00 

Jacob E. Friend 20.00 

E. W. Friese 1.00 

Gee & Knowles 10.00 

John S. George 10.00 

Gibbs & Joys 5.00 

Geo. W. Goes 5.00 

E. W. Goodrich & Son Co 10.00 

Hadden-KriiU Co 10.00 

Jas. Haddan 1.00 

M. E. Hamlin 5.00 

John Haiman 1.00 

H. C. Herbst 5.00 

Henry Herman 5.00 

E. D. Hinckley 5.00 

B. B. Hopkins 10.00 

Hotel Pfister 25.00 

C. D. Howard 1.00 

Samuel Howard 15.00 

F. M. Hoyt 5.00 

S. B. Humphrey 1.00 

P. C. Kamm 1.00 

C. W. L. Kassuba 10.00 

Chas. L. Kiewart 25.00 

Kirby House 10.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 205 

Milwaukee — Chamber of Commerce List (Cont'd) : 

P. J. Klein $5.00 

Max Kottelet 5.00 

F. Kraus & Co 25.00 

Robert Krull Commission Co. . . . 10.00 

Carl Landsee 1.00 

W. J. Lang.son 5.00 

C. E. Lewis 5.00 

Lnll-Franke Grain Co 20.00 

W. P. McLaren 20.00 

C. Manegold Mill Co 25.00 

G. W. Marling 5.00 

Glenway Maxon 5.00 

B. K. Miller. Jr 25.00 

Milwaukee Elevator Co 50.00 

Milwaukee National Bank 10.00 ' 

Mil. Odontological Society 15.00 

Mohr-Holstein Com. Co 15.00 

National Distilling Co 25.00 

Herman Nunnemacher 5.00 

W. H. Osborne 20.00 

Owen & Bros. Co 5.00 

Paine Bros. Co 25.00 

H. J. Panly 5.00 

A. J. W. Pierce & Co 20.00 

Plankinton House 25.00 

Prinz & Ran Mfg. Co 10.00 

Raymond Pynchon & Co 20.00 

Chas. Quarles 10.00 

J. V. Quarles 15.00 

^^'. E. Radtke 5.00 

M. .J. Rankin & Co 10.00 

Republican House 10.00 

Rialto Elevator Co 10.00 

C. C. Rogers 10.00 

E. W. Rogers 2.00 

Rosenberg & Liebemann 5.00 

Geo. H. Russell .j.Oo 

Ryan, Ogden & Bottum 10.00 

Jas. Sav.'yer 5.00 

Schaeffer Bros 5.00 

Chas. Schley 5.00 

Schlitz Hotel 5.00 

Alex. Schmidt 5.00 

Mrs. H. G. Schmidt, Berlin, Ger- 
many 5.00 



206 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Milwaukee — Chamber of Commerce List (Cont'd): 

Andrew T. Shea $5.00 

Jas. Siddel 5.00 

A. A. L. Smith 15.00 

T. W. Spence 5.00 

Fred Steinmueller 1.00 

Jos. Stolz 5.00 

Jas. H. Stover 5.00 

D. Suess 5.00 

S. W. Tallmadge 25.00 

E. W. Ten Winkle 1.00 

L. Teweles & Co 5.00 

W. H. Timlin 5.00 

Tracy & Co 20.00 

H. A. J. Upham 10.00 

D. Vance & Co 25.00 

J. H. Van Dyke 25.00 

Wm. D. Van Dyke 10.00 

E. P. Vilas 15.00 

E. C. Wall 10.00 

Benj. M. Weil 10.00 

Wis. Malleable Iron Co 25.00 

Wis. M. & F. Ins. Co. Bank 10.00 

Wisconsin National Bank 50.00 

W. H. Wolf 10.00 

A. T. Wright 5.00 

Geo. J. Zimmerman 5.00 

A. C. Zinn 10.00 

Merchants' & Mfg. Ass'n List — 

Abel & Bach Co 25.00 

David Adler & Sons Co 25.00 

E. P. Allis Co 550.00 

American Fine Art Co 10,00 

Jno. Berth Co 10.00 

Chas. Baumbach Co 25.00 

Beals, Torrey Co 25.00 

Wm. Becker Leather Co 25.00 

H. M. Benjamin Coal Co 5.00 

Wm. Bergenthal Co 5.00 

Victor L. Berger 1.00 

J. V. Beyer 5.00 

A. L. Boy»ton 5.00 

J. B. Bradford 25.00 

Edw. Bradley 25.00 

Brand Stove Co 25.00 

A. Breslauer & Co 5.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 207 

Milwaukee — Merchants' & Mfg. Ass'n List (Cont'd) : 

A. C. Bridges $10.00 

Bimde & Upmeyer 10.00 

Burnham Bros 25.00 

Cash 30.00 

T. A. Chapman Co 25.00 

E. W. Coleman for Milwaukee 
Herold 25.00 

Concordia Fire Ins. Co 50.00 

Cream City Hat Co 25.00 

F. Dohmen Co 15.00 

Drake Bros. Co 10.00 

Elkhart Lake, Laun Bros 10.00 

D. G. Espenhain Co 10.00 

. Filer & Stowell Co 25.00 

F. N. Finney 10.00 

First National Bank 200.00 

Wm. Frankfurth Hdw. Co 25.00 

Friend Bros. Clothing Co 25.00 

Oliver C. Fuller 5.00 

Fuller- Warren Co 25.00 

A. F. Galium & Son 10.00 

W- Gender 25.00 

Germania Publishing Co 25.00 

Gilowsky-Newman & Co 10.00 

Gimbel Bros 25.00 

E. R. Godfrey Co 10.00 

Goll & Frank Co 25.00 

Goodrich Transportation 25.00 

Aug. Greulich Co 3.00 

Gugler Lithograph Co 10.00 

A. A. Hathaway 5.00 

Hect & Zummach 5.00 

M. Heimann & Co 10.00 

Geo. H. Heinemann & Co 25.00 

C. Henneke Co 5.00 

Hoffmann Billings Co 10.00 

I. C. Iverson Co 15.00 

C. R. Jackwitz 1.00 

Jerman, Pflueger Co 15.00 

Johnson Elec. Service Co 25.00 

B. J. Johnson Soap Co 25.t)0 

Kalamazoo Knitting Co 15.00 

J. H. Kewdale Sons Co 15.00 

Knauber Lithograph Co 5.00 

Koch & Loeber Co 10.00 



208 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Milwaukee — Merchants' & Mfg. Ass'n List (Cont'd): 

Landauer Co $25.00 

Lindermann & Hoverson Co.... 10.00 

Lindsay Bros 50.00 

E. Eldred Magie S. M. Co 10.00 

Mahler, Albenberg Co 10.00 

Manville Covering Co 20.00 

E. Mariner 10.00 

Marshall & Ilsley Bank 100.00 

F. Mayer Boot and Shoe Co 25.00 

Meineke Toy Co 10.00 

A. D. Meiselbach 10.00 

Mil. Brass Mfg. Co 5.00 

Mil. Cold Storage Co 25.00 

Mil. El. Ry. & L. Co 300.00 

Mil. Gas Light Co 200.00 

Mil. Harvester Co 25.00 

Mil. Mfg. Co 10.00 

Mil. Mechanics Ins. Co 25.00 

MiL Rice Mach. Co 10.00 

Milwaukee Sentinel 100.00 

Mil. Trust Co 25.00 

Morawetz & Co 10.00 

Nat. Enam. & Stamp Co 100.00 

Nat. Exchange Bank 100.00 

Nee Ska Ra Min. Spring 5.00 

H. Niedecken Co 10.00 

Northwestern Furniture Co 5.00 

N. W. Malleable Iron Co 25.00 

O'Neil Oil and Paint Co 15.00 

0. L. Packard M. Co 10.00 

Patek Bros 5.00 

H. C. Payne 100.00 

Pfister & Vogel 50.00 

Pfister & Vogel Leather Co 25.00 

C. F. Pfister 20.00 

Wm. Plankinton 25.00 

J. W. K. Pratt 5.00 

C. Preusser Jewelry Co 10.00 

John Rauschenberger Co 10.00 

Rich Shoe Co. employes 38.35 

Rockwell Mfg. Co 20.00 

Rohlfing's Music House 20.00 

Romadka Bros. Co 10.00 

Rundle-Spence Mfg. Co 25.00 

Sanger Handle Bar & Plating 

Co 5.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 209 

Milwaukee — Merchants' & Mfg. Ass'n List (Cont'd): 

Sargent & Borup $10.00 

John Schroeder Lumber Co 25.00 

Geo. J. Schuster 10.00 

Schwaab Stamp & S. Co 5.00 

Second Ward Bank 100.00 

Shadbolt & Boyd Co 10.00 

Sheriff's Mfg. Co 10.00 

B. Skidmore, Jr 10.00 

C. J. Smith & Sons Co 25.00 

Smith, Thorndyke & B. Co 25.00 

John C. Spencer 15.00 

A. Spiegel Co 10.00 

Standard Paper Co 15.00 

Stark Bros. Co 10.00 

H. Stern, Jr. & Bro. Co 10.00 

Straw & Ellsworth Co 25.00 

Suelflohn & Seefeld 25.00 

B. Uhrig Fuel Co 25.00 

U. S. Envelope Co 10.00 

Vilter Mfg. Co 10.00 

Wadhams Oil & Grease Co 10.00 

West Side Bank 10.00 

. M. H. Wiltzins & Co 15.00 

Geo. Zeigler & Co 25.00 

Zimmermenn Bros. C. Co 5.00 

Herman Zohrlaut Co 10.00 

Total $9,133.68 

(Less paid for supplies sent di- 
rect to New Richmond, see Ex- 
hibit "C") 183.68 

$8,950.00 

T. H. Bowles 25.00 

Chain Belt Co 10.00 

Howard Morris 100.00 

N. W. Mutual Life Insurance Force 303.25 

No name 10.00 

Western Lime & Cement Co 25.00 

Wisconsin Central excursion 56.25 

H. F. Whitcomb 105.00 

Widow's Mite 1.00 

F. C. Winckler 10.00 

$13,017.01 



Minong — Citizens 11.00 

Mondovi— Citizens 221.50 



210 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Monroe — Base ball game $105.70 

Citizens 293.45 

I. 0. 0. F 60.00 



$459.15 

Mosel, Town — Citizens 55.25 

Mosinee — Citizens 310.75 

Muscoda — Citizens 19.20 

Neenah — Citizens $564.75 

Presbyterian Church 27.46 

592.21 

Neillsville — Citizens 125.00 

Nepenskun, Town — Citizens 54.85 

New Glarus — Citizens 147.45 

New London — Ball game $45.00 

Isaac Hanson 1.00 

Knapstein & Co 10.00 

56.00 

New Richmond— Bertha Bell $40.00 

A. W. Bosv/orth, Jr 12.75 

Licenses and lunch counter contributions 113.45 

County Asylum employes 54.00 

Found on street 92.44 

J. D. Kinne 3.00 

Lunch counter 15.00 

O. W. Mosher 1,000.00 

Jessie M. Smith 10.00 

Richard Williams 5.00 

■ 1,345.64 

Oconomowoc — Citizens 139.40 

Oconto — Oconto Lumber Co 100.00 

Oconto County — County Board 200.00 

Olivet— J. R. Clark 9.30 

Omro— Citizens 56.00 

Orion, Town — Citizens 26.15 

Osceola Mills— Citizens $405.00 

Wm. S. Koch 5.00 

C. E. Mears 5.00 

C. H. Oakey and others 68.25 



Oshkosh— Citizens $1,651.16 

W. C. Hibbard 12.00 

Third Ward , 85.60 

Children Y. M. C. A 1.50 

Osseo — J. Jj. Linderman $25.00 

Gus Hanson 1.00 

Peter Peterson 1.00 



483.25 



1,750.26 



27.00 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 211 

Oxford — Presbyterian Church $25.44 

Palmer — Citizens 42.50 

Palmyra — Caroline Curline $25.25 

Citizens 25.75 

51.00 



Pardeeville — Citizens 59.00 

Pepin County — County Treasurer 140.60 

Phillips— Citizens 174.35 

Pine Grove, Town — Citizens 10.00 

Plattville — Citizens $342.55 

F. Kragg 25.00 

367.55 



Pleasant Valley — Citizens $119.70 

School District No. 3 9.10 



Plymouth— Citizens $100.00 

G. G. G. Society 10.00 



Portage— Citizens , $132.00 

T. E. Wendes " 10.00 

R. B. Wentworth 5.00 



128.80 



110.00 



147.00 

Portland, Town — Citizens 80.10 

Prairie du Sac — Citizens 149.50 

Prairie du Chien — Citizens 41.00 

Prescott— Citizens $133.25 

Fire Company No. 1 25.00 

S. F. Minier 2.00 

160.25 



Pierce County — County Board 200.00 

Princeton — F. Sargent 2.00 

Racine— Citizens 1,724.13 

J. E. Davis 5.00 

G. N. Fratt 365.0 

No. 1700 Prospect street 5.00 

2,099.13 

Randolph — Base ball club $6.00 

Cheerful Workers 41.00 

' 47.00 

Randolph, Town — Citizens 6.00 

Reedsburg — Citizens 193.00 

Rice Lake — Citizens $150.00 

Fourth of July Oom 50.00 

G. A. R 10.00 

L. J. Noble 10.00 

220.00 

Richland Center^Citizens 225.60 

Ripon — Mrs. Hammistar $6.00 

Citizens 160.00 

166.00 



212 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Rhinelander — Alex. McRae $5.00 

Woman's Club 123.25 



River Falls — Citizens $550.00 

C. F. Foster 5.00 

D. F. Pamedstone 15.00 

W. H. Proctor 5.00 

J. T. West 1.00 



Roberts — J. H. Kinsey $6.44 

C. Odekeck 1.00 

S. B. Osgood and others 91.75 

A. Turner 1.00 



Shell Lake — Citizens $27.23 

W. B. Curtis 25.00 



$128.25 



576.00 



100.19 

Rusk — Citizens 104.75 

Rosendale — Citizens 21.00 

St. Croix Falls — Citizens $50.00 

Olson & Isaacson 10.00 

Rebekah Lodge 26.00 

86.00 

Sanborn — City Council $25.00 

Ladies' Social Club 10.00 

35.00 

Sand- Creek — Box 15 1.00 

Sauk City — Citizens 63.25 

Scandinavia — Lutheran Church 50.25 

Seymour — Citizens 230.75 

Sessex — Richard Weave 10.00 

Scott — Citizens 8.50 

Shawano County — Citizens 524.00 

Sheboygan — Citizens $309.50 

Rev. J. T. Chynoweth and others 520.25 

Grace Church 9.00 

Dr. J. .Johnson 5.00 



843.75 



52.23 



Sherman. Town — Citizens 70.10 

E. C. Stratton, Chairman 15.00 

85.10 

Shields, Town — Citizens 47.00 

Shiocton--Citizens 89.75 

Shopiere — Magnet Camp 50.00 

Somerset — Citizens $140.80 

Alex. Gordon 12.00 

Jos. Mars 1.00 

153.80 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 213 

South Germantown — Citizens $20.00 

South Milwaukee — Ball game 110.13 

Sparta — Citizens 50.00 

Springfield — Citizens 44.00 

Spring Green — Citizens 45.00 

Spring Valley— Citizens 29.00 

Spooner— Children 6.00 

Stevens Point — Citizens $386.75 

Catholic Foresters 10.00 

Mrs. Marion C. Reton 2.00 

Jas. Rice 1.00 

399.75 



Stockbridge — Citizens 25.86 

Stoughton— Citizens $100.00 

Stoughton Wagon Co 25.00 

125.00 



Shullsburg — Eastern Star $5.00 

Relief Corps 11.75 

16.75 

Sturgeon Bay — Citizens 41.50 

Sun Prairie — Citizens 163.30 

Superior — Belt Line Eleveator Co 32.50 

Sylvan, Town — Citizens 6.70 

Theresa — Citizens 45.40 

Thorp — Baptist Sunday School $3.00 

Trustees 50.00 

53.00 

Tomah — Citizens 378.90 

Tomahawk — Bradley Company 400.00 

Troy, Town — Citizens 99.38 

Turtle Lake — Citizens 50.05 

Two Rivers — City 50.00 

Citizens 253.55 

303.55 

"\Troqua — Citizens 150.00 

Washburn — Citizens $981.59 

Collections 350.00 

1,331.59 

Waterloo — Citizens 125.00 

Watertown — Ball game $114.55 

Citizens 202.00 

316.55 

Waukesha — Citizens 540.00 

Waukesha, Town — J. S. Kaltes, Chairman 14.75 

Waupun — Citizens 248.00 

Waupaca — Citizens 221.00 

Wausau — Citizens 1,136.74 

Wauzeka — Citizens 52.25 



214 THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 

Wavorly — C. P. Coon ' $10.00 

West Bend — Citizens 117.25 

Westby — Enoch Hehland 5.00 

Westport, Town — M. H. Keefe, Chairman 10.00 

West Denmark — J. P. Peterson 25.00 

Westland — Citizens 8.00 

West Salem — Leonard Tab^ude $10.00 

Fred Henke 1.00 

Andrew McEldonery 10.00 

21.00 

West Superior — T. J. Conme 454.00 

Ladies' Mission Aid 12.00 

Retail Grocers' Association 50.00 

516.00 

Weyauwega — Citizens 108.25 

Whitehall — Good Templars $5.85 

Happy Workers 10.00 

J. 0. Melby 10.00 

Modern Woodmen 20.00 

W. C. T. U 20.00 

Woman's Relief Corps 2.50 

68.35 

Willow, Town — Citizens 5.00 

Whitewater — Citizens $150.00 

Students and Faculty 70.00 

220.00 

Wilson, Town — Citizens 61.35 

Windsor — Citizens 52.35 

Wittenberg— Bank of 107.75 

Wood County — Citizens 509.80 

Woodland— Lutheran Church 23.25 

Worcester — Citizens 25.00 

Wyoming — M. E. and Congregational Churches... 5.00 

York, Town — Henry Lange, Chairman 12.00 

Zilman — Howard Allen 1.00 

Total cash contributions from Wisconsin $65,043.08 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 215 



CASH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM PARTIES WHOSE ADDRESSES 
ARE UNKNOWN. 

A. M. Anderson $1.00 

J. A. Arnold 1.00 

Badger State Press 40.00 

Mrs. H. S. Burdick 2.00 

E. J. Carley 2.00 

Cash 11-45 

Check on Minneapolis 25.00 

Chain letter .20 

Daube, Cohn, Stein Co 5.00 

Mrs. Dawson 1.00 

Richard Dewey 10.00 

Draft on Chicago 10.00 

Draft on Minneapolis 75.00 

Wm. Harker . . : 5.00 

David L. Holbrook 100 

In His Name • 5.00 

In the Name of the Lord .25 

J. D. Kauft 1.00 

Dell King .50 

F. M 5.00 

J. H. Marks 5.00 

P. H. Martin 10.00 

R. P. Murray 1.00 

No Name 1.00 

Dr. J. A. Pratt 5.00 

P. 0. Order 5.00 

Oscar K. RUdolpff 2.00 

C. F. Schroeder 2.00 

C. A. Sherbeck 2.00 

Dr. O. A. Strauss 5.00 

Mrs. H. B. Strait 5.00 

W. A. Tidball 1.50 

H. B. Tillotson 10.00 

Toomhauser Bros 1.00 

Unknown 3.41 

Peter Vilie 2.00 

Total cash contributions from parties whose addresses 

are unknown $262.31 



21G THE NEW RICHMONn CYCLONE. 



EXHIBIT C 

STATEMENT. OF CONTRIBUTIONS OTHER THAN CASH RE 

CEIVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE FOR THE 

RELIEF OF CYCLONE SUFFERERS. 



Chippewa Falls — Chippewa Lumber & Boom Co., 

lumber $189.61 

Clothing, groceries, etc 900.00 

$1,089.61 

Eau Claire — Labor $295.13 

Supplies from citizens 642.61 

Supplies from Red Cross Society 1,000.00 

N. W. Lumber Co., lumber 93.39 

Daniel Shaw T^umber Co., lumber 141.40 

2.172.53 

Fairchilfl — N. C. Foster Lumber Co., lumber 178.12 

Hudson— C, St. P., M. & O. Ry., labor $470.00 

Hudson Saw Mill Co., labor 185.00 

655.00 

Iron River — Lea-Ingram Lumber Co., lumber. . . . 175.00 

Itaska— C, St. P., M. & O. Ry. Co., labor 470.52 

Lake Nebagamon — Nebagamon Lumber Co.. lumber 127.31 

Mason — White River Lumber Co., lumber 340.75 

Menasha — Flour 6.00 

Monomonie — Labor $257.60 

Menomonie Press Brick Co., brick 100.00 



Milwaukee — Groceries by Milwaukee Relief Com. . $183.68 

Gem Milling Co., flour 50.00 

.1. B. A. Kern & Sons, flour 50.00 

Barnard Stern & Sons, flour 50.00 

U. S. Flour Milling Co., flour 100.00 

Western Lime & Cement Co., lime 84.00 

Wisconsin Central Line, labor 600.00 



357.60 



1,117.68 



THE NEW RICHMOND CYCLONE. 217 

Oslikosh — Coon-Brown Lime Co., lime $54.00 

Rice Lake — Rice I.,ake Lumber Co., lumber 203.00 

Sheboygan — Car of furniture 870.00 

Shell Lake— Shell Lake Lumber Co., lumber 226.55 

South Superior — Webster Mfg. Co., chairs 25.00 

Unknown Parties — Lime $52.96 

Lime 45.00 

97.96 



Sundry discounts allowed 32.35 

Furniture and clothing from various parties, ad- 
dresses unknown, estimated $2,731.10 

Minneapolis — Janney, Semple, Hill & Co., hardware $32.45 
N. W. Bedding Co., mattresses 62.50 



St. Paul — Commercial Club: Furniture, clothing, 

etc., estimated $2,203.53 

N. P. Ry. Co., labor 516.00 



Stillwater — Cash sent direct to sufferers $195.00 

Supplies 405.80 

Labor 1,243.39 

Maintaining crev/ 313.98 

Lumber 285.97 

St. Croix Lumber Co., lumber 200.00 

David Tozier, lumber 150.00 

Crockery 9.00 



94.95 



2,719.53 



2,803.14 



Total contributions, other than cash $16,547.70 



iUH^ ^ 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



016 091 794 5 I 



